HCA Midwest Health System, Kansas City’s largest healthcare network and private-sector employer and a flagship sponsor of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, announced today that it raised nearly $35,000 for the annual fund-raising event in Kansas City. HCA Midwest had 200 team members —including physicians, nurses, hospital support staff, CEOs and other executives—who participated in the Oct. 27 walk at Liberty Memorial. In addition, three of the event’s top 10 fundraisers included: Anne Kobbermann, MD, CBPN-IC, breast surgical oncologist, Overland Park Regional Medical Center and Midwest Physicians (raised $8,080 and was the number one fundraiser for the overall event); Stephanie Graff, MD, oncologist, Research Medical Center and Midwest Physicians (raised $6,196); and Kit Cullinan, RN, lead oncology nurse, Overland Park Regional Medical Center (raised $2,360).
HCA Midwest surpassed its own goal of $20,000 by raising nearly $15,000 more for the cause. This is the second year the healthcare network has served as a flagship sponsor of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
More than 12,000 dedicated community members participated in the inspirational Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K walk to honor and celebrate breast cancer survivors, educate people about the disease, and raise funds and awareness to create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays.
“HCA Midwest is proud to have a strong presence at this important community fund-raiser each year,” says M.L. Lagarde, president of HCA Midwest Health System. “Our employees are motivated by personal and professional reasons to raise money to help in the cure and fight against breast cancer. The funds raised will help save potential lives, help people get well, stay well, find a cure for breast cancer and fight back. This is one of the ways we give back to and partner with the community.”
Dr. Kobbermann, who works with breast cancer patients every day, says events such as Making Strides Against Breast Cancer help her visualize a world with more birthdays and less breast cancer. “HCA Midwest’s participation in and support of this important event signifies our hospital staff and physicians’ commitment to helping save lives,” she says.
Bridgett Myers, regional vice president of the American Cancer Society in Kansas City, says the money raised through Making Strides allows the organization to help save lives. “The funds raised by this important event help people stay well by taking steps to prevent cancer or find it early,” Myers says. “It also helps people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking research and by fighting back by encouraging lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight.”
Donations are still welcome and can be sent to the American Cancer Society office, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, Mo., or made online at MakingStridesKansasCity.org. For more information about Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and other American Cancer Society breast cancer programs, call (800) 227-2345 or visit cancer.org/stridesonline.