Gifford Medical Center Receives
National Avon Foundation Grant

Gifford Medical Center has been awarded an Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund grant for the seventh consecutive year. The only hospital in the state to receive the national award, Gifford has been granted $35,700 for 2008 to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer.

The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund supports community-based, non-profit breast health programs across the country. Gifford was selected as one of 143 grant recipients nationwide. Organizations are chosen based on their ability to effectively reach women, particularly minority, low-income and older women, who are often medically underserved.

In 2007, Gifford, through the Avon Foundation’s generosity, reached 1,532 women during educational visits, a total audience of more than 140,000 with the help of the media, and scheduled 497 women for mammograms.

"Men and women have responded by calling and getting information for loved ones, which makes me optimistic the message about the importance of mammograms is being received," Gifford Breast Care Coordinator Jane Harrness said.

The breast health program at Gifford in 2008 will continue to educate women in Randolph, central Vermont and statewide on the importance of mammograms and clinical breast exams.

Through Harrness’ work, Gifford will reach women where they live, work and socialize. Harrness will travel the state speaking at senior centers and senior living facilities, prisons housing women and public events on the life-saving benefit of detecting breast cancer early.

"Receiving this grant again allows me to continue to educate all of Vermont on the importance of breast health and annual mammograms," Harrness said.

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in U.S. women. In Vermont, an estimated 420 new cases of female breast cancer cases were diagnosed in 2007 and 100 died from the disease, according to a study by the American Cancer Society.

For more information on breast care at Gifford, call Breast Care Coordinator Jane Harrness at (802) 728-2317.

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