REACH for Breast Health uses "Chain of Caring"
NORTH ADAMS - The REACH for Breast Health Program at North Adams Regional Hospital is promoting National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a Chain of Caring® campaign.The Chain of Caring® -- which will be created from bright pink wristbands -- is a community effort to raise awareness of efforts to prevent, treat, and find a cure for the many forms of breast cancer. It is also a celebration of the power of many working together to accomplish common goals.
“The Chain of Caring® is our way of linking together to show all those who have been diagnosed, are living with, survived or lost their fight to breast cancer how much we love and care about them,” said REACH for Breast Health program manager Polly Macpherson. “Many of us wear bracelets, pins or other memorabilia to show our support for cancer research and a cure. This Chain will be a visible representation of our commitment to find a cure.”
Contributions will help provide breast health educational materials, counseling, screening and outreach for all women in the community. The contributions will also help to provide patient navigation and support services for women who are newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, recovering, or who live among us today as survivors.
The "Chain” is made up of pink Tyvek wristbands upon which people write the first name and home town of someone they care about or who cares about them. The bands are formed into circles and linked together to create a long Chain of Caring® representing the concept of the strength of uniting and working together for the same cause, in this case to find better treatment and cures for breast cancer. The bands will be printed with the phrase “REACH Out - Link Up - Connect for a Cure.”
Links are $1 each and may be purchased throughout October in the North Adams Regional Hospital gift shop, the Women’s Exchange store in Williamstown or through the REACH Community Health Foundation offices located on the NARH campus. Links will also be for sale at a variety of community events in October, including the annual Girls Night Out in the North Adams Regional Hospital lobby on Monday, October 27.
REACH for Breast Health has partnered with radio stations WUPE and WNAW to promote the Chain of Caring® and breast health awareness. Local radio personalities Sherman Baldwin and Eric Green will do a live remote broadcast during the Autumn Arts and Craft Fair from noon to 2 p.m.
In addition, local businesses are invited to participate. Businesses that start a Chain of Caring® will be included in press releases and media promotions, have the opportunity to honor and recognize employees as an individual or group and can use this as a meaningful team building exercise while supporting community awareness.
All of the links will be strung together to form a long chain that will be displayed on Main Street in North Adams. The links will be hung from trees and on the median along Main Street.
“None of this could have happened without the ongoing support of Mayor John Barrett. He has been instrumental in the continuing effort to engage and support Berkshire County women about their breast health,” said REACH Executive Director Deborah Simmons.
REACH for Breast Health is a program of the REACH Community Health Foundation. The program offers breast health education, personalized support and counseling for women diagnosed with cancer, information and referral services, complementary care resources and participates in community advocacy. The mission of the REACH Community Health Foundation is to improve the health and wellness of the Northern Berkshire Community through outreach, education, advocacy and collaboration with community members and area organizations.
For more information on the REACH for Breast Health Program, any other programs REACH Community Health offers, or on the Chain of Caring®, please call 413-664-5326.
