Tour de Pink: How You Help!

From 2005 – 2009, you rode many miles, you raised more than $1.6 million, and you helped many people. Here’s how…

 

Since its inception in 2005, Tour de Pink has helped Pink Ribbons Project make a powerful impact within the Greater Houston Area through the efforts of dedicated riders, volunteers, sponsors and all those who pledge. Here are some of the highlights from the past 4 years:

 

You got the wheels spinning for Tour de Pink, and we have helped many of our partners get rolling by helping to provide mobile mammography units out in the community to connect with patients where they live, work and socialize.

• In 2008, we shared equally with Komen Houston in the purchase of a mobile van for The Rose Diagnostic Center to transport their Sophie Mammography Unit throughout the Greater Houston Area, providing annual mammograms to thousands of women. ($200,000)

• In 2007, Harris County Hospital District (HCHD) purchased their first-ever mobile mammography unit. Pink Ribbons Project provided substantial seed money which encouraged other local foundations to join in this effort to quickly raise over half a million dollars to make this dream a reality. This unit now provides mammograms to all twelve HCHD’s clinics especially the 7 clinics that do not have mammography equipment. It serves over 3,000 women per year. ($100,000)

• From 2008-2010, we  have partnered with University of Texas Medical Branch to get the wheels rolling on their brand new mobile mammography unit, garaged because of the devastating effects of Hurricane Ike and the subsequent layoffs due to both the hurricane and budget cuts. ($150,000)

Your funds also provided mammograms and further diagnostic testing at our partners’ various locations and improved the equipment and processes at these locations. This reduced wait times for appointments and care and helped patients better navigate an overwhelming process.  

• In 2009, Pink Ribbons Project gave the funds to The Rose Diagnostic Center for a new ultrasound machine that will help reduce the current six-week wait time for ultrasounds. ($145.000)

• From funds raised in 2008 Pink Ribbons Project helped The Rose Diagnostic Centercomplete their campaign to replace and transform their analog equipment into state-of-the-art digital equipment. ($72,000)

• Since 2006, we have annually funded HCHD’s Saturday mammography program at the breast clinic at Quentin Mease Community Hospital, providing approximately 750 additional mammograms a year. This year we are also helping to keep the doors open on Saturdays at HCHD’s breast clinic at People’s Health Clinic, helping both HCHD locations maintain this strong and necessary outreach, and by year end these two programs will have provided close to 4,000 mammograms. ($244,000)

• ·Breast Cancer Network of Strength provides a comprehensive program called ‘ Day for You’ for women to receive breast cancer and breast health education, a clinical exam and a mammogram. However, this program lacked the funding to serve approximately 75 women who presented with abnormal clinical exams, and not only could they not take part in the program, they had to find their own resources for further diagnosis. This year we have provided the necessary economic support for these women to receive a full diagnostic workup and further care. ($33,000)

• In 2008 and 2009, we provided Patient Notebooks to ease the path for patients and families receiving care through the Nelly B. Connally Breast Center at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center ($36,720)

• We partnered with Pink Pilates, Inc. for five breast cancer survivors to participate in 24 Pilates classes. The funds will also cover nutritional counseling, a support group, monitoring and evaluation and project management. ($5,000)

• In 2009, Pink Ribbons Project gave 90 mammograms to The Rose as a result of our Community Partnership with KPFT during its fall fund-raising drive ($10,000)

• In 2009, we provided funding to Dia de la Mujer, a new project in Houston, to provide for its breast health education and wellness program geared toward Latina women. This program is celebrated in a health fiesta environment. The funding would also provide money for the training expenses for Promontoras as community advocates and navigators.  ($20,000)

• In 2006, we helped The Rose Diagnostic Center purchase an ultrasound machine for the Young Women’s Clinic at the Joan Gordon Center. In the first six months of service, the machine served 1,446 patients. Pink Ribbons Project sponsored 956 of those patients. (equipment cost $115,000)

• Over the four years, we have contributed unrestricted funds to The Rose Diagnostic Center for mammograms and further diagnostic testing for the medically underinsured. (more than $100,000)

• In 2006, we completed our $50,000 pledge to The Rose Diagnostic Center’s Capital Campaign. ($15,000)

You strengthened our vision of providing education, inspiration and awareness through the art:

• We partnered with Stages Repertory Theatre to co-produce UNBEATABLE: A Bold New Musical, that chronicled the journey of a breast cancer survivor, and sponsored the original cast recording of UNBEATABLE. ($75,000)

• We sponsored a proposed pilot project, Pink Alive—KIDS! from the Center for Creative Resources. The program provides supportive services for children and families of breast cancer survivors through expressive-arts workshops. The workshops would be monthly beginning this fall and would support 12 children. ($2,550)
• Contributed to Lisa Hamilton's production of Bald in the Land of Big Hair, to be used for expenses during her in-town show and for her touring program. ($6,000)

• Pink Aware is a dance demonstration that uses dance and art as the vehicles to bring the message of breast health, self-care and well-person awareness to teens AND adults, both male and female. For more information, visit www.pinkribbons.org/aware/.

• Pink Ribbons Project provides specialized support to survivors of and those touched by breast cancer through Pink Alive! programming that includes healing modalities such as journal writing, movement, exercise, art activities and education about survivorship . Pink Alive! also provides camaraderie through group setting and group sharing. For more information, visit www.pinkribbons.org/pinkalive/

• Pink Platter is an outreach program that brings Houston-area artists, Houston restaurants, and breast cancer survivors and their supporters together during the month of October- breast cancer awareness month. For more information, visit www.pinkribbons.org/pinkplatter/.

• Drink Pink! is an opportunity for kids and families to spread breast cancer awareness through the summer fun of a “pink” lemonade stand. For more information, visit www.pinkribbons.org/drinkpink/.