The Rhode Island branch of the national organization Pink Heals will donate $5,000 to support the Patient Advocate Program at the Program in Women's Oncology at Women & Infants Hospital.
Pink Heals Rhode Island, a group launched in 2009 by a Coventry firefighter whose mother was battling breast cancer for the fourth time, raises awareness and funds for groups involved in the treatment of women with breast cancer. Every penny of the funds raised by the group stays in the local community.
On October 24, 2010, the group welcomed the national founder at a kick off for the first annual Rhode Island Firefighters Care Enough to Wear Pink Campaign. Firefighters from 33 unions across the state joined in the effort, wearing Pink Heals t-shirts from October 25 to 27 to show their support for people battling cancer. Monies raised through the sales of the t-shirts funded donations to three charities, including Women & Infants' Breast Health Center.
"We are very happy that Pink Heals Rhode Island chose our program for a donation this year," said Amanda Goldstein, program manager with the Program in Women's Oncology. "Our center will treat hundreds of women with breast cancer this year, and programs like the patient advocate are an invaluable part of their care. We will be able to continue offering the patient advocate with Pink Heals' help."
The Patient Advocate Program was created in 2002 through the donation of a man who lost his wife to ovarian cancer. Its purpose is to help eliminate obstacles and stresses for women battling cancer. The patient advocate, a social worker, works with 10 to 15 patients a day, helping to arrange transportation to treatments and doctor's appointments, exploring financial assistance with utility bills and pharmaceutical costs, and helping arrange cleaning and marketing services for patients undergoing treatment.
"The patient advocate does whatever it takes to help our patients," Goldstein said.