OAC Softball Teams Partner With NFCA's Strikeout Cancer Initiative
OAC Softball Teams Partner With NFCA's Strikeout Cancer Initiative
OAC Softball Teams Partner With NFCA's Strikeout Cancer Initiative
Every year, the Ohio Athletic Conference softball programs take part in the "Strikeout Cancer" initiative through the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). This year, the OAC softball programs will raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and its National Mammography Program during all games on Saturday, April 13. The choice of this year's organization was spearheaded by Ohio Northern University's head softball coach Jackie Price and Athletic Trainer Chanda West.
NFCA's StrikeOut Cancer is a support program that aids member coaches with their own awareness initiatives. The program combines the personal experiences, community leadership and professional excellence of softball coaches nationwide to help increase cancer education and promote healthy lifestyles through awareness and fundraising efforts.
Since starting the StrikeOut Cancer initiative more than ten years ago, NFCA members have raised thousands of dollars to support the fight against cancer. These monetary donations allow cancer organizations to continue their efforts to prevent cancer, save lives, and diminish suffering from the disease through research, education, advocacy and service.
Last summer, West was diagnosed with breast cancer after her doctor noticed a lump in her breast during a routine mammogram. She was able to have successful surgery a few weeks later to remove the cancer.
"The radiologist told me that the lump was very small, and the only reason they noticed anything was because she could compare it to previous mammograms," said West. "Thank goodness I started getting yearly mammograms, because otherwise they probably would have not noticed anything out of the ordinary, had it been my first time."
Getting routine mammograms helped Chanda's doctors find the cancer early, and now she is fully recovered and back to work at Ohio Northern. As the athletic trainer for the softball program, the team knew they wanted this year's StrikeOut Cancer game to support Chanda, the NBCF and encourage women to get mammograms to detect early signs of breast cancer.
"Chanda does so much for us as our athletic trainer and she's always been there for us," said Jackie Price, head softball coach at Ohio Northern. "We would be lost without her, and we are very lucky and grateful that she took the proper precautions and the cancer was found early. The NBCF and the Mammography Program is a great cause as this is something that all women should be taking seriously. We can use Chanda's story to understand and learn that getting routine checks is something you should do even if you don't feel like it."
NBCF's National Mammography Program manages a network of partner medical facilities across the United States. Through this network, they provide grants for free breast screening and diagnostic services to those in need (low-income/uninsured/underinsured). These facilities have the systems and partnerships in place to ensure access to treatment for patients who are diagnosed.
Donations will be accepted at all OAC softball games this Saturday, and all proceeds will go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. To learn more about the National Breast Cancer Foundation and join the over 10,000 women who have already pledged to schedule their mammogram screening this year, click here.