GALVESTON, Texas - Eight Houston/Galveston organizations received more than $1.62 million from the Avon Foundation for Women and the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer - Houston to support breast cancer programs.
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston received a $125,000 grant to support patient navigation services and restore outreach and breast screening to the Galveston area, which was devastated by Hurricane Ike in September 2008.
"We will utilize the Avon Foundation funds to hire a full-time patient navigator who will be based in Galveston to assist with breast diagnostic follow-up and cancer treatment," said Ann Anderson, UTMB's director of principal gifts.
"We expect that this key staff addition will allow our institution to better track breast cancer patients through the diagnostic process and reduce delays in care," Anderson said.
The Avon Walk Houston is a noncompetitive event and kicked off Saturday, April 4. Participants chose to walk either a marathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles) over the weekend