Masquerade ball focuses on breast cancer
WAYNESBURG – Cornerstone Care Inc. will hold its second annual Pink Masquerade Ball Sept. 28 as part of its Dancing with a Pink Ribbon project, which focuses on early detection and prevention of breast cancer.
The event is scheduled for 5 to 11 p.m. at the Historic Summit Inn Resort in Farmington. WTAE-TV’s Michelle Wright will serve as special guest and host. Goals of the event include raising awareness and money to provide clinical breast exams and mammograms, especially for women without health insurance or access to care.
The evening includes a buffet dinner, cash bar, silent auction and entertainment by the Knighthawks band featuring music from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. Tickets are $45 per person and there is a limited number available. To order tickets, call the ticket line at 724-852-1001, ext. 305. For all other inquiries, call the information line at 724-852-1001, ext. 306.
It was estimated that 100,000 women in Pennsylvania needed a mammogram in 2011 and didn’t have access to one. Someone is diagnosed with breast cancer every two minutes in the United States and it hits one in every eight women. Men can also develop breast cancer. Many fatalities may be avoided with education, outreach and access to early detection and prevention.
As a result, two years ago Cornerstone Care created the Dancing With a Pink Ribbon project to address the challenges locally. The project uses Cornerstone Care’s mobile medical unit to provide clinical breast exams, education and mammogram referrals in communities throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Assistance is also provided to uninsured and underinsured individuals to obtain a mammogram at no cost.
More than 30 years ago, mammography was established as the gold standard to find breast cancer early. Because of grassroots efforts by local organizations such as Cornerstone Care, there are today more than two million breast cancer survivors in the United States alone.
“You can help save the lives of women and men in our community, maybe even someone you know,” said Donna Simpson, Cornerstone Care’s outreach manager, about the importance of the program and Cornerstone Care’s Masquerade Ball, which helps fund these efforts.”
Simpson describes the event as “a fun evening of intrigue and mystery as we unveil the men and women behind the masks along with some other surprises.”
Monongalia General Hospital, Atlas Resource Partners LP, Baily Insurance Agency, Consol Energy and Community Bank are helping sponsor the event. Simpson indicates Cornerstone Care is still accepting sponsorships, silent auction items and advertising opportunities. Cornerstone Care is a 501(c)3, non-profit organization.