Help fight breast cancer at CMH's annual Harvest Ball

Friday, Aug. 14, 2009

Under the best of circumstances, it is a difficult battle — and waiting for test results, researching the best treatment options and sometimes even traveling out of the area for services can add to the anxiety and stress. Fortunately for those of us in Southern Maryland, many of these complicating factors will soon be things of the past.

The new Calvert Memorial Hospital Center for Breast Care, slated to open in the Calvert Medical Arts Building in Prince Frederick, will bring the same level of care available in major metropolitan areas right here to our local community.

The new center will offer women everything they need — from screening to diagnosis, treatment and survivorship — all delivered with compassion by a team of experts with state-of-the-art technology at their fingertips.

No more waiting weeks to schedule a biopsy, or traveling hours to a nearby city. Women in our community deserve to have the very best right here. 

Bringing this level of service and technology to our community, however, is very expensive. This is where you can make a difference.

Every year the Calvert Memorial Hospital Foundation hosts its Harvest Ball to help raise needed funds to continually improve the quality of health care in Calvert County. This year's theme will be "The Galaxy Ball," to be held on Nov. 14 at The Show Place Arena.

All the proceeds from this year's ball will be used to purchase technology for the new Center for Breast Care.

The ball is a great way to lend your support to a very important cause. There are many ways in which you can get involved: 

1) Become a sponsor: Receive an early bird discount before Aug. 31;

2) Attend the ball: Buy tickets for your family and friends;

3) Donate items for the silent auction (the sky's the limit);

4) Bid on and buy silent auction items at the ball.

Breast cancer will strike one in eight women in their lifetime — but if detected early, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent.

You can help defeat the threat that breast cancer poses.

Do it for the women you love, have loved and for their families.

For more information, call Diane Tarhan at the Foundation office at 410-535-8178 or 301-855-1012, Ext. 8178, or download information at www.calverthospital.org.

Brooke Steuart and

Raleigh Weckbaugh, Dunkirk

The writers are the co-chairs of the Calvert Memorial Hospital Harvest Ball.