An illuminated pink ribbon on the Yates Headframe promotes Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Sanford Underground Research Facility.
During breast cancer awareness month at Sanford Underground Research Facility (Sanford Lab), the Sanford Lab community raises funds for local breast cancer fighters through the Lead-Deadwood Foundation for Health. This year, the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA) has pledged to match the first $500 raised for this initiative.
“As part of our breast cancer awareness month activities, we’re working to raise money for the local Foundation for Health,” said Mike Headley, executive director of the SDSTA and lab director of Sanford Lab. “The Foundation is a wonderful organization that helps many people struggling with breast cancer in the Northern Hills, and we are proud to support them with this fundraiser.”
Give today and double your donation
In 2018 and 2019, the Sanford lab community has raised nearly $4,000 for the Foundation for Health. This year, our goal is another $2,500. Give online or via donation boxes at locations around the Sanford Lab facility.
Learn more about the Foundation for Health
The Foundation for Health has been providing opportunities to the community with health, safety and personal needs for more than 32 years. The Foundation for Health also runs the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” campaign during the Days of ’76 Rodeo as a way to increase support for breast cancer patients in the area.
“We call it our ‘pink bubble,’” said Laurie Wince, director of the Foundation for Health. “All funds raised in the name of breast cancer go directly to helping those patients specifically.”
The Foundation for Health’s pink bubble bridges daily living costs for breast cancer patients that aren’t addressed by medical insurance. These include transportation to and from treatments, travel and lodging for the patient and their families, and lymphedema compression sleeves. Funds are also used for nutrition, pre- and post-testing and education. The Foundation for Health also provided funds to the Regional Health Lead-Deadwood Hospital to redo a section of flooring in order to stabilize the mammogram machine.
“One thing I want to emphasize is that the funds from this campaign stay local,” said Wince. Patients eligible for these funds live primarily in Lead and Deadwood, with a few in the greater Northern Hills.
The Environmental, Safety and Health, and Quality Assurance Department at Sanford Underground Research Facility promotes health and safety in the workplace, as well as healthy living and wellness for all employees. If you have questions about health and wellness, please contact our occupational health nurse, Laura Baatz, who is onsite daily at lbaatz@sanfordlab.org.