Over 260 participants took part in the third annual B.E.E.P. Breast Cancer Walk-a-thon.To kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Breast Education & Early-detection Project (B.E.E.P.) and the Outdoor Recreation Program at Delta State University held the third annual B.E.E.P. Walk-a-thon on Oct. 5 at the DSU Fitness Trail.
The event was attended by 261 participants who walked 827 laps, or the equivalent of 413.5 miles. It was sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Roger Blake and the Blake Surgical Association. Delta Dairy of Cleveland provided samples of ice cream to event participants.
Also partnering for the event were: the College of Education and Human Sciences; Dean of Graduate Studies, Continuing Education and Research; Department of Athletics, HPER; greek organizations; Robert E. Smith School of Nursing; and the Central Mississippi Steel Magnolias Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
A special thanks was expressed to volunteers assisting with the event, including: Debbie Allen, Todd Davis, Dr. Beverly Moon, Nancy Reginelli, Dr. Rose Strahan, and Kimberly Williams. Also assisting with the walk were DSU students Tia Brown, Katie Genneralli,and Liz Hansen from the Outdoor Recreation Program, and Eric Rush from the School of Nursing.
B.E.E.P. focuses on raising awareness of breast cancer and breast health and increasing the number of women who adopt early cancer detection methods. The project has been funded by a grant from the Central Mississippi Steel Magnolias Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation since 2008. B.E.E.P. provides breast health education and funding for clinical exams, mammograms, and ultrasounds for women who have limited income, are uninsured or underinsured, and have limited access to preventative healthcare in Bolivar, Sunflower, Washington and surrounding counties.
The walkathon raised $1,000 for B.E.E.P. to utilize, in addition to the grant funds, to provide breast cancer screenings and education.
B.E.E.P. has maintained long-term partnerships with local healthcare facilities and community organizations since 2008. Through March 31, 2016, the project has:
- sponsored or participated in over 400 breast cancer awareness events.
- reached 21,444 individuals
- provided 546 mammograms, 37 ultrasounds and 637 clinical exams
- provided 511 transportation stipends to participants to assist with costs of travel for the screenings
- referred 72 individuals for further testing after the screenings
- assisted in identifying 14 individuals with cancer through additional testing
For more information on B.E.E.P., contact Gail Bailey at 662-846-4008 or gbailey@deltastate.edu.
