Newsworthy

The Stormont Vail Foundation will host its 25th annual BIG HEARTS Golf Tournament on Monday, Sept. 15, at Topeka Country Club. The tournament has already raised more than $275,000 in sponsorships, gifts, and registrations.

The golf tournament will have an 7:30 a.m. morning flight and a 12:30 p.m. afternoon flight, with a dinner and awards ceremony following the tournament. There are 232 registered players joining us this year.

Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit advanced technology purchases for a planned relocation and expansion of Stormont Vail’s Breast Imaging Center, where some 20,000 mammograms are completed annually. Equipment to be purchased includes:

• The latest 3D mammography machines with high resolution software and AI upgrades to better detect hard to see nodules.
• Contrast enhanced mammography, which is not currently offered in our region. This technology utilizes contrast dye in conjunction with mammography to detect abnormalities, especially in dense breast tissue.
• The latest in breast biopsy technology with integrated specimen imaging that combines tissue acquisition, real-time imaging, and advanced specimen separation – streamlining the process and ensuring doctors have what they need.
• An Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) unit to provide patients who have dense breast tissue or are at higher risk of breast cancer supplemental screening.

Each year, nearly 320,000 patients will be diagnosed with breast cancer. A sobering one in eight women will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime. While the incidence of breast cancer has increased over the past 35 years, the number of deaths has declined by more than 42%.     

“Our tournament sponsors and friends recognize the importance of investing in state-of-the-art technology to ensure the very best of care is available close to home,” said Tina Long, Stormont Vail Foundation Development Officer and Tournament Coordinator. “Their support will mean more of our patients can live longer, happier and healthier lives thanks to the combination of better and earlier detection with improved and new treatment options.”

This year’s honorary tournament chair is the law firm of Goodell, Stratton, Edmond & Palmer, LLP. The presenting sponsor is the Hospital Assistance Program with Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds & Palmer and Lockton Companies serving as title sponsors.

Learn more about the Stormont Vail Foundation, the BIG HEARTS Golf Tournament, and how you can be a part of the difference here: https://www.stormontvail.org/stormont-vail-foundation/