The Susan G. Komen Coastal Georgia Affiliate announced at its annual awards luncheon that it is awarding a total of $357,017 for direct community services that will fund breast cancer screening, education, diagnostic services, and patient navigation.

This brings the total investment in our local coastal community to over $2 million dollars since the affiliate’s inception. 

“It often surprises people to learn that support for our affiliate is raised here and stays here,” said Aileen Gabbey, executive director for Susan G. Komen Coastal Georgia. “Seventy-five percent of funds raised benefit the nine counties we serve, and the remaining 25 percent is devoted to research for a cure.’

This year, the Coastal Georgia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen® has awarded seven grants to programs in the Coastal Georgia area. These include: Southeast Georgia Health System’s Mammograms in Motion; Liberty County Health Department’s BRAVE III Project; Hearts and Hands for Mammograms; Bulloch County’s Breast Brigade; Effingham Hospital’s Comprehensive Education and Screening Program; Curtis V. Cooper Mammography; and Coastal Community Health Services Breast Cancer Outreach.

“Each month in our service area, 12 women are diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer,” said Sarah Denmark, board president. “We stress the need for screenings for underserved women in our community because early detection saves lives. The five-year survival rate for early diagnosis is 98 percent.”

Komen Coastal Georgia encourages programs designed for screenings and education. “In the last five years, our affiliate has provided support for over 7,000 screenings,” said Julie Schwartz, mission coordinator. “Our community profile identifies our service area’s needs so that we can reach the women and men most in need of help.”

The majority of funding for these community grants is generated through the Savannah Race for the Cure, which is scheduled for April 16 in Savannah’s Ellis Square. For more information about Komen Coastal Georgia and Savannah Race for the Cure, visit www.komencoastalgeorgia.org.