Are you a woman over 40 who has no insurance or a female under 40 with a family history of breast cancer who also is uninsured or underinsured?

Has it been more than a year since your last mammogram?

If you meet any of these requirements, you may qualify to participate in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer for the Cure Grant program at Wallace Thomson Hospital.

Wallace Thomson Hospital has a $35,000 grant to provide mammograms to uninsured and underinsured women in Union County. The grant will expire March 31, 2010 and would cover around 200 women.

Jamie Ellison, RN, CDE, clinical coordinator for outpatient education at Wallace Thomson Hospital, pointed out that in these trying economic times, a startling number of women are finding themselves without health insurance for the first time.

“Without this grant, numerous women would suffer from a complete lack of breast health services,” she said. “Through this grant we offer free lifesaving screenings to anyone that qualifies and will participate. With the rising rates of unemployment and lack of insurance we can’t encourage women enough to take part in this service.”

Anyone who thinks she may qualify for the free mammogram may call Catherine Childers at 429-2466 or Jamie Ellison at 466-0281.

(A representative from Wallace Thomson Hospital with information about the Komen Breast Cancer for the Cure Grant program will be available on June 20 during a community event at Pacolet River Baptist Association from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.)