Cache Valley residents raise money for breast cancer

Students working on a philanthropy group project for a management class had raised more than one thousand dollars for breast cancer screenings by selling baked goods outside the Taggart Student Center Monday and Tuesday.

Erica Darley, a development officer at Logan Regional Hospital, said proceeds from the sale go towards a foundation that seeks to provide health care for people who cannot afford it. The foundation will use the money to provide mammograms for women who are either uninsured or underinsured.

“It’s really important that people in our community, and women, particularly in this case, know that there’s funds available,” Darley said. “Early detection can prevent a lot and we want these women to come in and get checked and not be afraid of the cost. We want to take care of that for them. In fact, they don’t ever see the bill, it just comes right to my desk.”

Darley, whose job is to raise money for the foundation, said 100 percent of the proceeds are going towards the screenings. The hospital will not use the money for other fees.

“That’s the beauty about my position is you don’t have to pay an administrative fee or an overhead for the hospital,” Darley said. “They just take whatever we raise and whatever’s brought in by other community groups and put 100 percent of it towards the cause.”

Ellary Swenson, a junior majoring in plant science who took part in the project, said the group of 10 students chose to do their philanthropy project by raising money for breast cancer treatment because it is something that affects them.

“I think at least half of us have known someone personally who’s been affected by breast cancer,” Swenson said.

Dalton Wilson, a junior majoring in management information systems who worked on the project, said everything the group sold was donated by various businesses in Cache Valley including Wal-Mart, Apple Spice Café and Logan Regional Hospital. He said getting the donations was easy because the businesses wanted to help.

“None of them asked for anything in return really,” Wilson said. “They just were happy to support the cause that we were working for.”

Wilson said doing a philanthropy project like this is important because it is relatively inexpensive way to do something good. He said because they were able to do it for free, all it cost him was time.

“I’m more than happy to sacrifice a little bit of time for a very big picture like breast cancer or anything really that we’re donating to,” Wilson said. “I’m more than happy to help out.

The bake sale is not the only fundraiser for breast cancer screenings in Logan this week. As October is breast cancer awareness month, there are other events in Logan that will raise funds for Logan Regional Hospital’s foundation that provides screenings.

Brad Thorne, the owner of Cache Valley Strength and Conditioning, said Saturday from 8-10 a.m., people can take part in a group cross-fit workout and all proceeds will go to the hospital.

“They get some exposure to what we do, but at the same time, it’s obviously going to a great cause,” Thorne said.

Thorne said this is the fourth year his company has been involved with Logan Regional Hospital. He said over the last three years, they have raised about $10,000.

Thorne said the workouts are doable by people of all ages and athletic types. Anyone who wants to take part in the event can come to 840 N. 50 West. There will be a pink fire truck parked in front of the building.

Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Ellen Eccles Theatre, the An Tús Nua Irish Dance Academy will do a Halloween performance called Wicked Jig. Tickets range from $16 to $18 and all proceeds go to breast cancer screenings.

Lindsie Lund, an assistant to the academy’s director, said this is the third year the academy has done the performance for breast cancer but it is their first year working with Logan Regional Hospital. She said for the last two years they worked with the American Cancer Society.

Lund said an event like this is important for people who are battling cancer.

“It just, I guess, shows the community that has been affected by cancer that there’s people that care about them and that are thinking about them,” Lund said.