Our current campaign

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In 2019, The Health Foundation is raising funds for new state of the art digital mammography equipment for the regional hospital in Yorkton. This will be the first equipment of its kind in Saskatchewan, setting the new standard for the province. 

The new equipment will be a key step forward in breast cancer detection technology. It will save lives. It will detect cancers that the existing equipment cannot, and it will detect other cancers and lesions earlier than current mammography equipment. 

The purchase of this equipment is also necessary to continue the breast screening program in Yorkton, which serves all of east central Saskatchewan. The screening program is very busy, averaging over 5,000 women annually. 

The only proven method of reducing breast cancer deaths is early detection, which is why breast screening is conducted. 

There is tremendous public awareness regarding the issue of cancer generally and breast cancer specifically. For women, breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer related death. One in eight women will contract breast cancer in their lifetime. One in 27 women die from breast cancer. 

Thankfully, in recent years the breast cancer death rate has declined as better technology has allowed for earlier detection of breast cancer. 

The new equipment is expensive; it costs just over $500,000, but the technology is proven to diagnose cancer earlier and more accurately. It will save lives. The Health Foundation is one of three health foundations in the province to all raise funds and purchase the equipment this year. A group purchase will enable them to get a better price. 

The benefits of putting this equipment in our hospital are very clear for the women and families of this region. The Foundation expects to receive strong public support for this campaign. Breast cancer is not an abstract disease, because most people know someone who has had breast cancer. For many it is a family member... mother or grandmother, or maybe a sister or aunt. 

The Health Foundation, in co-operation with Brayden Ottenbreit Close Cuts for Cancer, unveiled the campaign on April 13 at Think Pink, an afternoon attended by breast cancer survivors, their families and friends (photo at right). It featured speakers and entertainment, with the goal to support the fighters, admire the survivors, honour the taken and never, ever giving up hope.

The annual Airwaves for Health Radiothon, which takes place April 29 and 30, which will be the official start of the fund-raising campaign for the new equipment. The Health Foundation's goal is to raise the necessary funds by the end of summer, so that the new equipment can be in place at the regional health centre in Yorkton by the end of the year.