SPRINGDALE — Andrea Stanley has been involved with the Susan G. Komen Ozark Affiliate in at least half a dozen different capacities in the past four years. The Rogers resident said her involvement began when her best friend’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006.
“That really fueled my fire and had a huge impact on me,” she explained. Since then, she said, a number of her friends also have been affected by the disease.
Her volunteer service now has her heading up the group’s upcoming Pink Trash Ball benefi t for the second year. The four-yearold fundraiser is slated for Friday at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville.
The theme is about “trashing” breast cancer and organizers encourage attendees to sport their “pinkest, trashiest” outfi ts. New this year will be a Halloween costume contest with fi rst and second prizes being awarded.
The $35 price of admission includes food donated by Golden Corral and Walmart/Sam’s Club and live music from Memphis party band, The Bouff ants.
Affiliate Executive Director Alison Levin said last year’s trashy event raised $27,000 that went toward the $721,000 in grants the agency awarded to more than a dozen area breast cancer programs in eight Northwest Arkansas counties.
Funded projects range from cancer support services to providing access to screening to educational programming. One new grant funded this year went to Girl Scouts for a breast health education program for young girls and their mothers.
Levin said smaller grants are also made for things like covering conference fees for nurse navigators to become certified. Nurse navigators are oncology-certifi ed nurses who are available to guide cancer patients and their families through diagnosis and treatment.
Funding priorities identified by the local aft liate include projects focusing on clinical breast services for minority, uninsured and underinsured men and women in the area; identifying screening and access barriers; education andprevention programs for targeted populations; and patient navigation and advocacy.
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AT A GLANCE
SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE OZARK AFFILIATE
Location: 403 W. Maple St., Springdale
Phone: 750-7465
Web: www.komenozark.org
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GO & DO
PINK TRASH BALL
To Benefit: Susan G. Komen for the Cure Ozark Affiliate
When: 9 p.m. to midnight Friday
Where: George’s Majestic Lounge, Fayetteville
Attire: Pink and Trashy
Tickets: $35
Information: 750-7465
Our Town, Pages 11 on 10/24/2010