$251K Grant Awarded To Help Women Fight War Against Breast Cancer
Ellen Hermanson was "an articulate, courageous and indomitable warrior in the war against breast cancer."
Published by Southampton Patch
By Lisa Finn, Patch Staff | Jan 25, 2018 5:26 pm ET
SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Major funding was awarded to fuel the fight against breast cancer this week.
The Ellen Hermanson Foundation awarded Stony Brook Southampton Hospital 2 grants totaling $251,095 in support of a wide range of programs and services benefiting patients at the Ellen Hermanson Breast Center and the Phillips Family Cancer Center, scheduled to open in November, the hospital said in a release.
The support has been steady and mighty in past years: The Ellen Hermanson Foundation has been a catalyst in the hospital's ability to acquire cutting edge, state-of-the-art technology, including 3D tomosynthesis imaging systems, for its hospital-based and Hampton Bays facilities, the hospital said in a release.
This year's grant will support the purchase of a new stereotactic viopsy system for the Breast Center and the purchase of infusion chairs for the hospital's new Cancer Center. Support from The Ellen Hermanson Foundation will also fund mammograms and MRIs for women who lack insurance.
Grant support from Ellen's Well, an initiative created by the Foundation to offer invaluable support services for women battling breast and gynecological cancers, will provide vital complimentary services including an oncological social worker, yoga and water exercise classes, massage and acupuncture therapy treatments, reflexology, and the annual "Day of Renewal and Hope."
"Our longstanding partnership with Julie Ratner, Emily Levin and the board of The Ellen Hermanson Foundation was a catalyst in the revitalization of our hospital. They continue to touch and save lives every day through their advocacy and generosity," said Robert S. Chaloner, Chief Administrative Officer of Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.
"Our Foundation remains committed to honoring the memory of our sister by empowering Stony Brook Southampton Hospital to make a difference in the lives of women, men and families who are battling breast cancer," said Julie Ratner, chair of The Ellen Hermanson Foundation.
The foundation was created to honor the legacy of Ellen Hermanson, who was "an articulate, courageous and indomitable warrior in the war against breast cancer. Her personal battle with the disease began in February 1989, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer while still nursing her 6-month-old daughter. Ellen fought against her disease medically by undergoing surgery and aggressive chemotherapy," the foundation's website explains.
Today, The Ellen Hermanson Foundation seeks to ensure access to state-of-the-art breast health care and empower those affected by cancer. Funds raised support accessible mammography screening at the Ellen Hermanson Breast Center at Southampton Hospital and its satellite locations in Hampton Bays and East Hampton. Through Ellen's Well, The Ellen Hermanson Foundation provides oncological social worker-led support groups, nutrition, yoga, reiki and other healing opportunities for breast cancer survivors. Programs sponsored by the Ellen's Well are free of charge. No patient is turned away from The Ellen Hermanson Breast Center for lack of insurance or inability to pay for treatment.
In 2016, Southampton Hospital continued to expand its options for battling breast cancer, celebrating the addition of two diagnostic services to its radiology site at the Hampton Bays Atrium, providing critical access to services for women living west of the Shinnecock Canal.
Patch courtesy photos.
Original article: https://patch.com/new-york/southampton/251k-grant-awarded-help-women-fight-war-against-breast-cancer