Councilman James Oddo yesterday announced a $25,000 donation to the Staten Island Region of the American Cancer Society, and $250,000 for a digital mammography machine at the Staten Island University Hospital, during a kickoff breakfast marking the 10th Anniversary of the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walkathon.
The breakfast, held in the Staaten, West Brighton, provided an opportunity for people diagnosed with breast cancer and their families and friends to recognize the accomplishments of the American Cancer Society, hear the latest in medical research, and network with others involved in the fight.
It also highlighted the society's "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walkathon, which will take place Oct. 17 in Clove Lakes Park. Registration is at 9:15 a.m. A total of 4,000 people are expected to participate in this year's event, which helps raise funds for breast cancer programs.
Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn) said the $250,000 in capital funding will be matched by Staten Island University Hospital in order to provide the hospital with its second digital mammography machine by 2005. The machine allows radiologists to increase the patient screenings by 20 percent a day.
The $25,000 donation will be used to underwrite the ACS transportation program. The free program is provided to patients who don't have relatives or friends to drive them to chemotherapy appointments, and will cover the cost of car service or ambulette service to and from Island facilities. It also covers the cost of tolls and parking for off-Island patient care.
"I am pleased that I was able to secure this funding for such a worthwhile organization as the American Cancer Society so that they can continue to do this important work," Oddo said.
The American Cancer Society's seven local flagship sponsors also will provide over $100,000 in cumulative funding.
