Caring Relationships - Gundersen Health System

Community Embraces Steppin’ Out in Pink
The parade of pink surrounding
Gundersen Lutheran’s La Crosse
campus on Saturday, September 6,
was a sight to behold. An estimated
3,700 walkers of all ages stepped
out with family and friends for the
third annual Steppin’ Out in Pink
walk in support of breast cancer
research at the Norma J. Vinger
Center for Breast Care.
By any measure, the event was
a phenomenal success. The spirit
of the community could be seen
in the record-breaking participation—an
increase of 500 walkers
over 2007—and by raising an estimated
$260,000 for the cause.
Proceeds from Steppin’ Out in
Pink are designated for Gundersen
Lutheran Medical Foundation’s
Norman L. Gillette, Jr. Cancer
Research Fellowship endowment.
Thanks to its exemplary interdisciplinary
approach, Gundersen
Lutheran ranks among the nation’s
leaders for best practices and
outcomes in the treatment of
breast cancer. Survivors were a
major presence at this year’s event,
many walking with family members
sporting special team shirts or signs
in support of their loved one.
Event co-chairperson Patty
Brown, herself a breast cancer
survivor, was this year’s recipient
of the Paula J. Tower Memorial
Award in recognition of outstanding
efforts to create a future that
eliminates the threat of breast
cancer. Gundersen Lutheran also
unveiled their new pink mobile
mammography vehicle that will
service 19 counties in Wisconsin,
Minnesota, and Iowa. The mobile
unit began visiting businesses
in October to offer screenings
to employees as well as local
communities.
Gundersen Lutheran Medical
Foundation extends heartfelt
thanks to the thousands of walkers
and hundreds of volunteers,
entertainers, vendors, prize
contributors and sponsors who
have embraced this cause and made
Steppin’ Out in Pink a success for the
entire community. Seeing so many
people united by their motivation
to battle breast cancer is an
inspiration to all.
Knocking Out Breast Cancer,
One Mammogram at a Time
One in seven women
will develop breast cancer sometime during
their lifetime. Early detection through screening mammography greatly
improves treatment options and helps save lives. Gundersen Lutheran is
dedicated to making screening mammography services more accessible to
women in our Tri-state Region, so we’re bringing the service to you!
Our new digital mobile
mammography coach travels to:
• factories and businesses
• medical clinics
• shopping centers, churches, and
other community locations
Screening mammograms
are performed within the
self-contained unit, taking
approximately 30 minutes.
Scheduling is arranged through the
Norma J. Vinger Center for Breast
Care, the leader in breast health.
To learn more about bringing this
life-saving service to your business or
community, call Gayle Jago, Program
Manager, (608) 775-4999 or (800)
362-9567, ext. 54999.
28 www.gundluth.org/foundation