Blue Ribbon Foundation launches mammography unit project

Pictured back L-R, Father Martin Nadarajan, EGHS Medical Imaging Department office coordinator Roxane Moos, EGHS Chief Executive Nick Bush, Dean Pinniger, Kate Gleeson, Sandra Marriner, Jess Seres; front L-R, EGHS Director Clinical Services Bec Peters, EGHS Board Chair Cam Evans, Blue Ribbon Foundation Ararat Branch President Dianne Radford.

The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Ararat Branch has launched its next fundraising project, the largest in its 23-year history, which will see a mammography unit installed in the Blue Ribbon Foundation Wing at East Grampians Health Service.

The Ararat Branch has committed to raising $250,000 towards the purchase of the vital equipment, which will cost in total $296,000. Additional funds will be provided by East Grampians Health Service.

Ararat Branch president Dianne Radford said the branch was excited to launch the mammography unit project, which will benefit women, and men, across the wider Ararat region.

“This project is the largest in the history of the Ararat Branch’s 23 years of fundraising for East Grampians Health Service,” Mrs Radford said.

“We have committed to raising $250,000 towards the project and along with our fundraising partners are confident that we will reach our target in approximately two years.

“I am extremely proud of our Ararat branch volunteers who work tirelessly on our fundraising projects throughout the year, with our main events including the Grampians ‘Ride to Remember’ and the Gala Night, and I am also grateful to the Ararat community for supporting our fundraising efforts each year.

“Since the Ararat Branch of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation was formed 23 years ago, we have donated more than $1.2 million to East Grampians Health Service, of which our committee is very proud.”

Mammography is a specialised breast x-ray imaging technique used for early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.

Mammography can be split into two services – screening and diagnostic.

Having a mammography unit at EGHS will enable the health service to offer an additional service to Ararat and surrounding areas by improving access to the national free screening program, BreastScreen, which can identify early signs of breast cancer in asymptomatic people.

It will also allow EGHS to perform diagnostic mammograms referred by GPs and specialists, reducing the need for patients to travel elsewhere for these important examinations.

It is estimated that EGHS could screen approximately 700 clients through BreastScreen each year and having a local service will reduce the need for long-distance travel, with Ballarat currently the closest service.

It will support women who may delay or skip the free screening service due to transport, time or finance barriers.

EGHS Director of Clinical Services Bec Peters thanked the Blue Ribbon Foundation Ararat Branch for committing to funding the mammography unit.

“This is an important project with far reaching benefits to our community,” Ms Peters said.

“With the support and dedication of the Blue Ribbon Foundation Ararat branch, partners, businesses, organisations and everyone who annually supports the Ararat Branch’s fundraising efforts, we are excited to be able to provide a mammography unit for our community, which will improve health outcomes for both women and men due to screening and early detection of breast cancer.”