This Sunday, on Mother's Day, thousands of women in faith communities throughout Chicago will promise to each other to get mammograms and raise awareness for the breast cancer health disparity facing African-American women. Access Community Health Network's Pin-A-Sister campaign aims to reach 700,000 women nationwide. In the Chicago area, women in dozens of churches will symbolize their individual commitment by pinning a pink ribbon on all willing members of the congregation.
The program was launched in Chicago in 2007 and has grown rapidly—from 67,000 women being pinned and hearing the message in Illinois in 2007 to 500,000 women being pinned and hearing the message throughout the state by the year 2009. Additionally, the campaign has expanded outside of Illinois to Iowa, Kansas, South Carolina, Louisiana, West Virginia and Indiana. In fact, the Progressive National Baptist Convention encouraged its churches throughout the United States to hold Pin-A-Sister Sunday™ ceremonies in October. More than 20,000 women at 100 churches in 18 states were pinned and heard the message about receiving mammography screenings.
University of Illinois Hospital has same or next day appointments for mammograms and partners with community organizations for patients who need scheduling, transportation, or financial assistance.
To schedule one today, please call 312.413.4900.
AVON WALK FOR BREAST CANCER RETURNS FOR 11TH YEAR IN CHICAGO JUNE 1-2
On Saturday, June 1, participants will take the first steps of the 11th annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Chicago – the fourth walk in the 2013 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series. The Avon Walk series consists of eight non-competitive fundraising events throughout the country that bring together thousands of participants – including breast cancer survivors – dedicated to raising life-saving funds for the breast cancer cause. The Avon Walks offer participants a choice of walking a marathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon-and-a-half (39.3 miles) over a weekend. Walkers raise a minimum of $1,800 to participate and the Avon Foundation for Women distributes the funds raised to local, regional and national breast cancer organizations supporting access to care and research.
To register visit www.avonwalk.org/chicago/
