Life saving breast screening van now available for women in Western Sydney

The Westmead Breast Cancer Institute (BCI) Sunflower Clinic BreastScreen van was launched by Melinda Pavey, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health at Parramatta Park today to service the needs of women in greater Western Sydney, who can now access a free life-saving health service closer to home.

The van will aim to improve breast cancer screening amongst Western Sydney communities and was made possible by the Ray of Hope Fundraising Committee who worked tirelessly for the past three years to raise over $1million dollars to fund the van.

Latest figures from the Cancer Institute NSW predict more than 4,600 women across NSW will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011.

More than $650,000 was contributed to the van by the Ray of Hope Fundraising Committee and further funding of over $350,000 was contributed by the Cancer Institute NSW from the Federal Department of Health and Ageing specifically for the van’s GE Senographe Essential Digital Mammography Unit. Ray of Hope Fundraising Committee Chair Steve Vamos thanked members of the committee for their efforts and support.

“The Ray of Hope Committee and our supporters are very pleased to have accomplished the goal we set over two years ago.

“In particular, the support of Arab Bank Australia, Novartis, GEON, GE Healthcare and the Nine Network has been greatly appreciated. Our team of fantastic volunteers, including the wonderful Australian women artists who generously donated their artworks for fundraising efforts, helped make this achievement possible”, said Mr Vamos.

(Read this story in Arabic Section)