News : VGH Mammography project receives $4,500

The McKenna family donated $1,000 in memory of Earlene McKenna to the VGH mammography project.

Imaging Technologist Maria Davis stands at the door of the future VGH Mammography Room.

Janet Woodhouse holds a pink golf ball used for Friday's fund-raising tournament.

A $1,000 donation from the memorial fund of Earlene McKenna, and the profits from the first fund-raiser organizer organized by the Survivors of Benton County will help Virginia Gay Hospital fund a new mammography unit.

Earlene, who died of cancer on Feb. 20, 2010, had been involved for years in organizing and promoting blood drives for the American Red Cross. Her daughter, Dawn Janssen, and daughters-in-law, Brie and Nichole McKenna, presented the check to VGH Foundation Director Mike Timmermans Thursday afternoon.

Also present for the photo were a few members of the Survivors group who helped organize the fund-raising 5K run and golf tournament, Janet Woodhouse and Angie Tharp. Imaging technologist Maria Davis, who will be the first member of the VGH Imaging Services Department to learn how to perform mammograms, along with Imaging Services Director Monica Stark, were also present to celebrate the progress the hospital is making toward the project.

The Surivors of Benton County said they are happy with the result of their first fund-raising effort. They raised $5,300 from the run and golf tournament, minus expenses. Timmermans said he expected the total profit from the events to be around $3,500. The ladies will review the fund-raisers and consider ways to improve future events during their next meeting. The survivors meet the first Tuesday of every mont, at 6 p.m. at Winsor Manor, where the staff serves a meal (free-will donation), and the survivors share their own experiences and try to help others.

Click HERE for a recent story about the mammography project.