(Grand Rapids, MI.) “This important partnership not only raises awareness of the importance of screenings and early detection of breast cancer, but has also created a lot of positive energy in Lowell,” commented Tara Geror, Marketing Director of Saint Mary’s Health Care and Lowell resident. “We’re proud to be a part of it, and as a resident of Lowell, I’m especially proud because I see the effect that it’s having.”

In our second year of sponsoring the groundbreaking Lowell Pink Arrow Project, The Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary’s aims to increase the community’s awareness of cancer prevention and treatment. This year’s Pink Arrow Project will not only turn the football team and fans pink on September 11, but has been expanded to include two other athletic events to be held on that day. September 11 will be a daylong festival of athletic contests coupled with reminders of the importance of screenings for early cancer detection and remembrances of those lost to the disease. 

As the first major partner with Lowell Community Wellness to sponsor the Pink Arrow Project in its kickoff year last year, The Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary’s will repeat some of the activities that were so successful, such as the varsity football team’s visit to the cancer center to meet some of its medical leaders and to watch a video of Chris Spielman, former Ohio State and NFL All-Pro linebacker. Spielman talked of his fights on the football field and his much more difficult fight to support his wife as she underwent breast cancer treatments. This year’s visit is planned for August 4. The Lacks Cancer Center also hosted the girls’ Varsity Club last February, providing a tour of the center and educational sessions with our clinical cancer experts. “It was a wonderful, educational, eye-opening experience,” one of the girls remarked as the group left. “I’m going to go home to remind my own mom to make an appointment for a mammogram.”

During the annual Riverwalk in July, the cancer center sponsored an informational booth, and the football team carried a banner from The Lacks Cancer Center.

These same experts from The Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary’s plan an expanded collaboration this year, including offering educational sessions on cancer prevention and treatment in the Lowell community. They will also partner with Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids’ Lowell program once it is up and running, to bring in speakers.

With the rest of the Lowell community, The Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary’s will be at the big game on Friday, September 11, as the Red Arrow Varsity Football team turns pink to take on Grand Rapids Union High School at 7 p.m. The football game will follow the Varsity Volleyball’s outside game versus Forest Hills Northern and the cross-country meet, which both begin at 5 p.m.

During the games, the cancer center will sponsor a booth with informative brochures and will have clinical experts on hand during both games and all the festivities to inform and educate anyone seeking more information about cancer detection and treatment.

“Educating women about breast health is the first major step in cancer prevention,” remarked Dr. Jamie Caughran, medical director of the Comprehensive Breast Center at Saint Mary’s, part of The Lacks Cancer Center. “This project does so much good in so many ways.”