03/11/11 Ounce of Prevention is an organization that provides breast cancer awareness, fund-raising and events. Co-chaired by Jennifer Houin and Jessica Oliver, Ounce of Prevention’s success and future depends on the events they sponsor. Ounce of Prevention has been very successful in creating exciting fund-raising events in Marshall County since 2003 and the Oliver Family continues to press forward in raising breast cancer awareness.
Because of their success in fund-raising, Thursday morning John and Jessica Oliver and sister Jenny Houin presented a check for $50,000 to Dr. Tim Smith from Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center. Also attending the presentation were Joan Hunt Registered Nurse and Mickey Hoffer Radiographer.
Following the presentation Hoffer showed-off some of the new items purchased with the funds from Ounce of Prevention donation. A specialized chair called the multipurpose mammo chair can be used by patients who cannot stand long enough for a mammogram. The chair can be used during a biopsy procedure to manipulate a patient who is feeling faint.
Another item purchase is an ACR accreditation phantom to ensure optimum image quality and peak performance of a mammography system. This 5 to 6 inch block is an estimated $1,500.
Hoffer said a big part of the funding was used for specialized training for four staff members. A professional trainer spent a week at the hospital working with the radiographers in a mammography positioning workshop. Educational material for patients was also purchased.
Jenny Houin said, “Our goal 5 years ago was to create a resource center for cancer patients in Plymouth, similar to the one in South Bend. Unfortunately the program up there ended because of funding cuts.” She explained that the goal now is to help fund a person to serve as a navigator. The navigator would be someone to hold a hand and walk with the cancer patient through all phases of their battle, not just for breast cancer patients but for all types of cancer patients. ”
The 2011 Ounce of Prevention fundraising events include the Ta Ta Trot on June 25, a Golf Outing at Mystic Hills this summer and the Margari-tata-ville party on October 15.
