The Grand River Hospital Foundation has successfully completed its $500,000 fundraising campaign.
The money was raised in order to fund a third full-field digital mammography machine for the Waterloo Wellington Breast Centre (WWBC) at Grand River Hospital’s Freeport Site.
The campaign was completed with a leadership gift of $125,000 from the Grand River Hospital Volunteer Association (GRHVA).
“We are grateful to the GRHVA as well as many community donors for their generous support of this equipment,” said Ron Caudle, chair of the Grand River Hospital Foundation.
The GRHVA compliments and enhances patient care, while providing financial support generated from gift shops, stores and a Tim Hortons franchise.
Ken Cressman, president of GRHVA said, “we are pleased to support the great work of the Waterloo Wellington Breast Centre through this gift.”
Currently, the WWBC operates its programs with two full-field digital mammography machines. However, a third mammography machine will reduce wait times and help to better meet the needs of women in the community.
Digital full-field mammography is the gold standard in breast screening, providing high quality images and user-friendly technology for front-line clinicians. It also reduces the level of radiation for patients.
The WWBC has shown itself to be a women’s health leader in the region.
Nancy Silcox of New Hamburg who has used both the screening and assessment services at the WWBC said, “with the area’s most sophisticated equipment and the most knowledgeable staff, why would anyone trust their breast health to anyone else?”
The third mammography machine will be purchased by the hospital over the next year.
According to the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), breast cancer continues to be the most common form of cancer for women in Ontario. A breast x-ray, or mammogram, remains the most reliable screening tool for most women.
Serving more than 13,000 women annually, the WWBC offers the Ontario Breast Screening Program with state-of-the-art screening equipment. The purpose of OBSP is to encourage early detection of breast cancer by screening women 50 years of age and over with routine mammograms every two years.
In addition to screening services, the WWBC is also home to the breast diagnostic assessment program (DAP). Women with a new breast lump or abnormal mammogram screening who qualify for the DAP are provided with a seamless one-day service giving them access to health care providers specializing in breast imaging, ultrasound, and breast biopsy guided by mammography or ultrasound. Care providers include breast surgeons, radiologists and imaging technologists.
