Page 10 The Skanner September 21, 2016
By Susan G. Komen
Oregon and SW Washington
A
s a big pink display of communi-
ty involvement, over 30 church-
es in the Portland metro area
are organizing activities that
promote breast cancer awareness and
the importance of screening in early
detection.
The growing Worship in Pink pro-
gram, directed by Susan G. Komen Or-
egon & Southwest Washington, is held
during October’s Breast Cancer Aware-
ness Month. Volunteer Ambassadors
from each church are trained in the
message and are provided resources to
use at their activities.
Nationally, breast cancer is the sec-
ond most common cause of death in Af-
rican American women, exceeded only
by lung cancer. Currently, in Portland,
only 57 percent of African American
women get mammograms, compared
to 76 percent of the general population.
This is especially troubling because Af-
rican American women are much more
likely than other women to be diag-
nosed at a later stage (42 percent in Af-
rican American women vs. 27 percent
in the general population). They tend
to be diagnosed at a younger age with a
more aggressive form of breast cancer.
As a way to work towards closing this
gap, seven of these churches are going
above the regular Worship in Pink
program and assisting women in need
to receive a mammogram as African
American Initiative Pilot Churches.
Pilot Church congregations are at least
50 percent African American. Their
Ambassadors will receive additional
training on both insurance options, for
the insured and uninsured, and how to
motivate and help someone through
the process of getting a mammogram.
In the months following their Worship
in Pink activity, they will contact and
help attendees who ask for assistance.
Worship in Pink is truly a communi-
ty wide project with churches working
together on outreach and education.
Janet Long, one of Allen Temple CME
Church Ambassadors, was one of the
original Pink Ambassadors from the
irst Pink Sunday event held in 2010.
Her congregation has persevered
through two devastating ires to their
church building and is now combining
their eforts with another church. Jan-
et says, “in February 2014, Maranatha
Church graciously allowed us to hold
our worship service in their building.
With us sharing the same building for
worship, we became bonded in a new
way and wished to share the Worship
in Pink experience as well. Last year
was our irst joint collaboration where
we hosted a “Lunch and Learn” event.
This year our “Lunch and Learn” will
be held at Maranatha Church on Oct. 8
from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. with special guest
Dr. Natalie Johnson, a surgical oncolo-
gist and breast cancer survivor,”
Christell Harris, Maranatha Church’s
Women’s ministry leader and usher, is
also an Ambassador with Worship in
Pink. Her involvement began a few
years ago when the issue became deep-
ly personal.
One of the church’s ambassadors had
recently passed away from breast can-
cer and then just a couple of months lat-
er, the woman’s daughter passed away
from the same disease. It was devastat-
ing to Christell. She says ,“I was close
Allen Temple CME Ambassadors Janet Long, Carol Roberts, and Reverend Rhonda Smith, along with
Ambassadors from Community of Hope Church, learning about the message and resources at the 2016
Worship in Pink Ambassador Summit Training.
to both of them. Ater
they passed I wanted
to reach as many peo-
ple as I could. It is more
than just awareness — it
is important to get the
mammogram. Even if
you don’t have insur-
ance, there are places
where you can get a free
mammogram.” Dr. T. Al-
len Bethel, Senior Pastor
at Maranatha, says of
the program, “Worship
in Pink is important
because many African Maranatha Ambassador Janelle Hartley talks with some Worship in
Americans oten are di-
Pink attendees.
agnosed in late stages;
Worship in Pink helps
• St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church
bring awareness and access to com-
(“High Tea and Hat Show” from 12-2
bat this deadly disparity and see us all
pm Oct. 15 at 8101 N Fiske Ave * Port-
proper in our health.”
land)
• Vancouver Avenue First Baptist
For help in receiving a mammogram,
Church (“Worship in Pink Camp
attend a Worship in Pink activity at one
MPowerment” OCt. 7 in the O.B. Wil-
of these African American Initiative
liams Fellowship Hall at 3138 N Van-
Pilot Churches:
couver Ave * Portland)
• Allen Temple CME Church and Ma-
ranatha Church (“Lunch & Learn”
The complete Worship in Pink
from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 8 in the Mul-
schedule of activities can be found at
tipurpose Room at 4222 NE 12th Ave
KomenOregon.org.
* Portland)
• Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
About Susan G. Komen Oregon and
(“Family and Friends Lunch” from 1 SW Washington: In the last 25 years, the
p.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 29 at 5935 N Min- local organization has funneled nearly
nesota Ave * Portland)
$19.8 million into programs that prior-
• Bethel AME Church (“Pink Believers itize the importance of improving and
Breakfast” from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Oct. building on the quality of life for survi-
8, in the Multipurpose Room at 5828 vors and forever ighters, emphasize the
value of early detection and screenings,
NE 8th * Portland)
• Community AME Zion Church as well as inancial assistance for access
(“Worship in Pink Annual Tea” from to treatment. Another $11.8 million has
1 to 3 p.m. on Oct. 22, at 2211 NE 137th been dedicated to local cutting edge re-
search.
Ct * Vancouver)
PHOTO COURTESY SUSAN G. KOMEN OREGON AND SW WASHINGTON
Area Churches Pull Together
to Fight Breast Cancer with
Worship in Pink Activities
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUSAN G. KOMEN OREGON AND SW WASHINGTON
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