For immediate release: July 17, 2007
PHOTO AVAILABLE
GALVESTON, Texas - D'Feet Breast Cancer Inc. of Galveston presented a check for $13,069.77 to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston to help purchase a new unit to provide mammograms to low income women throughout Southeast Texas.
Dr. Tuenchit Khamapirad, director of breast imaging UTMB Department of Radiology, accepted the check on behalf of the university and John Sealy Hospital. UTMB staffs and operates the mobile mammography van while nonprofit groups sponsor visits to many sites in Southeast Texas and as the UTMB's Regional Maternal and Child Health Clinics. D'Feet Breast Cancer sponsors the van in Galveston County, providing approximately 1,000 mammograms annually to women 40-65 who otherwise would not receive this service.
The Oleander mobile mammography unit was introduced in 1999 and since has covered about 90,000 miles. In its lifetime, the Oleander and its staff have provided more than 22,000 screening mammograms within an eight county area. Now, in the twilight of the Oleander's service, a replacement unit is on the drawing board. Already, the Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund, the Nelda C. and H. J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, St. Luke's Episcopal Health Charities and various individual benefactors have joined D'Feet Breast Cancer in making more than $600,000 in philanthropic commitments toward the new unit.
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D'Feet Breast Cancer Inc. presented a check for more than $13,000 to help pay for a new Oleander Van. Pictured from left, are D'Feet board members Joyce Singleton, Kathy Maines, Mary Hood, Dr. Francoise VanDaele, board president, Tuenchit Khamapirad, director of UTMB's Breast Imaging Division, and D'Feet board members Dolly Warren, Jim Blankenship and Turtle Clark.
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
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Galveston, Texas 77555-0144
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