Jersey Shore Hospital and Keystone Central School
District
Want Children to Give Mothers "The Gift of Life' This Mother's Day
Jersey Shore Hospital offers mothers of sixth grade students at
Keystone Central School District free mammogram screenings
 Jason
Shade, public relations director of the Jersey Shore Hospital, stands with
sixth grade students of Keystone Central School District. The students are
signing their Mother's Day cards as part of the "Mammograms for
Mommies." program.
LOCK HAVEN, Tuesday, May 8, 2001 - Mother's Day may be a little more special
for some mothers this year following an initiative conducted by Jersey Shore
Hospital and Keystone Central School District.
The initiative, known as "Mammograms for Mommies," focused
attention on one of the most important woman's health issues of our time -
breast cancer. Using the theme of the upcoming "Mother's Day"
holiday, the Hospital hopes to focus attention on the value of early detection
in the war on breast cancer.
Under the program, the Hospital provided Mother's Day cards to nearly 400
sixth-grade students throughout the school district. The Mother's Day cards
contained an invitation for a free mammogram screening at Jersey Shore Hospital
for mothers of the students. The initiative promotes community wellness and
raises awareness concerning the issue of breast cancer and the value of early
detection.
"We chose to partner with Keystone Central School District because
Clinton County has the second highest mortality rate in the State for breast
cancer. The current standard is that women reaching the age of 40 should have a
screening mammogram, and we estimated that mothers of sixth graders would not
closely match this profile," said Lou Ditzel, Chief Executive Officer,
Jersey Shore Hospital.
The school district was pleased to have the opportunity to participate in
this unique program.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for our children to provide a Mother's
Day gift that will last a lifetime," said Steve Kreger, Director of Pupil
Services, Keystone Central School District.
Mammograms for Mommies will be an annual event, if it proves successful,
commented Cindy Grenninger, Manager of Community Health and Outreach Services
at Jersey Shore Hospital.
"We encourage every at-risk woman to have a mammogram screening. Events
like this one serve to increase awareness and force individuals to take
responsibility for their own health and wellness. These individuals who
participate in the program tell their friends who in turn tell their friends,
and so on," said Grenninger.
Jersey Shore Hospital has promoted breast cancer awareness programs for the
past two years, which has included a mobile screening program for "at
risk" women in Clinton and Lycoming Counties. The Hospital noted that
these efforts have helped to identify potentially serious problems in 25 women
since 1999.
"We are extremely happy and proud of the number of lives we have
impacted and we are looking forward to a successful effort with
"Mammograms for Mommies,'" said Grenninger.
The Jersey Shore Hospital is an FDA-accredited provider of mammography
services.
Contact:
Jason Shade, Public Relations Director
Jersey Shore Hospital
570-398-3103
jshade@jsh.org
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