The Rose of Hope organizing committee has made a $500,000 pledge to support breast screening at KHSC
The Rose of Hope organizing committee has made a $500,000 pledge to support breast screening at KHSC
Credit
UHKF

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Rose of Hope Tournament and, once again, the women of the Cataraqui Golf and Country Club have chosen to raise funds in support of the programs which support cancer care at the Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC). Over the past 20 years, the tournament has raised in excess of $1.6 million for cancer services in our region and, last year, $140,000 was raised in support of KHSC’s breast reconstruction program. 

Tournament organizers have set a new goal to ensure every woman from our community, who undergoes screening by mammogram, has the best care experience possible. The Rose of Hope Tournament organizers have committed to a five–year pledge of $500,000 to help configure, equip, furnish, and improve the breast screening unit at KHSC’s HDH site. Each year, thousands of women screened in this unit face the possibility of starting their breast cancer journey.

“We are thrilled that the Rose of Hope Tournament Committee has chosen to invest in our program, which strives to provide early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer in a timely fashion,” says Radiologist Dr. Eric Sauerbrei. “We evaluate approximately 350 women per week with mammograms, breast ultrasound and image-guided breast biopsies. Our excellent technologists need modern equipment to provide these services to women and men in Kingston and the surrounding area, so this generous investment is tremendously important to enhance and optimize these services.”

Every year, hundreds of women in our community are diagnosed with breast cancer as it is the most prevalent form of cancer among Canadian women. Early detection offers the best chance for a good prognosis and women are encouraged to do regular self-examinations and to get mammograms, to ensure early diagnosis and the best survival rates. The five year survival rate of women diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer is 100 per cent. 

“We are extremely proud that we have impacted cancer care services, right here in our community, so profoundly,” says Sherri McCullough, Rose of Hope Tournament, Chair, “Our tournament committee is excited to set this new goal and continue our support of breast cancer care at Kingston Health Sciences Centre.”

“The tournament committee, its supporters, and the hundreds of participants have truly made a tremendous impact on cancer care in our region. This generous gift will support and encourage women from across our community, who are going through screening and assessment for breast cancer.  Thank you, on behalf of every woman, their loved ones and the care givers who will benefit from your support,” says Denise Cumming, President and CEO, University Hospitals Kingston Foundation

This year’s Rose of Hope tournament will be held on July 31 at the Cataraqui Golf and Country Club.