Breast Cancer Group Donates $50,000 to Colorado Imaging Center

The Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group, based in Vail, Colo., has made a $50,000 donation to the Sonnenalp Breast Diagnostic Imaging Center at the Shaw Regional Cancer Center to help women who need but can't afford additional diagnostic imaging following a mammogram, reports local paper the Vail Daily. The newly created Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group Gap Fund will help women cover the cost of breast imaging procedures that are either not covered by their insurance plans or come with hefty co-pays the patient is unable to afford. “Unlike donations that we have previously made that are spread over several years, we want the money to be used in one year,” said Kristin Kenney Williams, president of the group, in the Vail Daily. “We were shocked to learn that many women, although insured for their annual mammogram, are not following through with additional diagnostic tests — if found to be necessary — due to their deductible or the additional payment that might be required. “These women might get that terrifying follow-up phone call saying ‘we think we see something' but when they look to their insurance, to their deductible, most times they decide that the gap payment is too big. They then face the risk of waiting another year until their next mammogram, which is covered by insurance.” Since 1994, the Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group has supported those in Eagle County who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. To date, they have raised more than $1 million in the fight against breast cancer.