Communities across the province will be seeing pink this summer as the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, with the support of CIBC and Shoppers Drug Mart, hits the road for a tour, inviting members of the community to come out and get the facts about breast cancer screening.
The Pink Tour will be travelling across Ontario, and eligible women will be able to sign up for a mammogram with the Ontario Breast Screening Program, a program administered by Cancer Care Ontario.
“Research shows that regular breast cancer screening can save lives. Since 1986, breast cancer mortality rates in Canada have declined by almost 40% as a result of increased mammography screening and improved treatments,” said Sandra Palmaro, CEO, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Ontario region.
“Even though we know that finding breast cancer sooner means a greater range of treatment options and a better chance of survival, only 67% of eligible women were screened in 2010,” Palmaro said.
The Pink Tour will be making more than 90 stops in communities across Ontario. Visitors will be able to hop aboard the bus to learn about breast cancer and breast health through hands-on, interactive tools.
Women who are eligible to join the Ontario Breast Screening Program will be given an opportunity to register for a mammogram, right on the bus. All visitors will have the opportunity to sign the bus to pledge their support for the cause. The tour hopes to empower women to take action for their own health, and engage community members around the importance of this issue.
“We are pleased to be part of the Pink Bus Tour. Any initiative that encourages and enables women to enrol in our high quality Ontario Breast Screening Program is fantastic”, said Dr. Craig McFadyen, vice president, Waterloo Wellington Regional Cancer Program for Cancer Care Ontario.
The tour will be travelling to cities and towns all across Ontario, including Sioux Lookout, Kenora, Windsor and Ottawa.
It will pull into Fergus for two stops on Oct. 10, arriving at the CIBC at 301 St. Andrews St. W. from 12:30 to 2:30pm and then will pull into Shoppers Drug Mart at 710 Tower Street South from 3:30pm to 5:30pm.
To learn more about visit www.cbcf.org/pinktour. Follow The Pink Tour’s journey at Facebook.com/CBCFOntario and Twitter.com/CBCF_Ontario (#PinkTour).
