From Left to Right: Welch Cancer Center (WCC) Nurse Practitioner Nina Beach, Dana’s Hope Committee Members Renea Parker, Amy LeDoux, Stacey Rozman, Dana Arney Dent, Hospital Foundation Ada Kirven, Dana’s Hope Committee Members Anita Schamber, Joanne Garnett, and Connie Goodwin, and WCC Manager Tommi Ritterbusch, and WCC Oncologist Dr. Megan Ratterman
January 3, 2020
The Sheridan Memorial Hospital Foundation received an extraordinary gift to help provide cancer screening and early detection for community members in need. The $6,500 was from Dana’s Hope, a local non-profit. Dana Arney Dent, the organization’s founder, delivered this contribution along with an awesome group of friends and family on December 23, 2019.
Dana’s Hope began in 2011 after Dana faced her journey with Colon Cancer at a young age. Once she successfully completed her treatment, she was determined to share her message with the Sheridan community through an event called the Bottom’s Up Bash. According to Dana, “Colon cancer is a preventable disease, and curable if caught early. In the past, colon cancer has been one of those health issues you never want to talk about. For me, it became my mission to make sure people were talking about it and doing something too. There are screening guidelines in place. People also have a responsibility to talk with their doctors if they notice changes or have a specific concern.”
According to the Colon Cancer Prevention Project, everyone is at risk for colon cancer. Colon cancer occurs most often in men and women age 50 and older, though 10% of cases (and growing) are in people under 50. Timely screenings save lives. Colon cancer usually starts from polyps in the colon or rectum. Screening finds polyps so that they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests also find colon cancer early when it is most treatable.
Hospital Foundation Director of Donor Relations, Ada Kirven, spoke about the hospital efforts to help those in need of screening, “For two years our Link-Partners in Pink event has raised funds specifically to help those with special financial needs access all kinds of cancer screening. Screenings include breast, colon, lung, prostate, and others. We encourage our patients to call one of the Hospital’s Financial Advocates to see how to qualify and access these funds. These efforts are a pivotal step in taking healthcare into your own hands. No one should feel they can’t afford to have a screening, and our community, business sponsors, and racers have made funding for screening a top priority.”
Visit sheridanhospital.org or call The Foundation for information about how you can make a difference and support healthcare for our community, 307.673.2417.