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In This Issue:
Surgery resident Luise Pernar, MD, has a special place in her heart for the mission of BWH’s Connecting Hope, Assistance, and Treatment (CHAT) program, which supports low-income women with breast cancer.
Her mother died of the disease, and her grandmother was a breast cancer survivor.
“While my family members had the insurance and means to financially cope with their illness, the hurdles were still substantial,” said Pernar, who will be running in her 10th marathon, but her first in Boston, on April 16 with Team Brigham. “I’m running to honor my mother’s memory and to help provide financial support to women with limited resources who are faced with this disease.”
When Team Brigham members step up to the starting line in Hopkinton on Monday, many will find the inspiration to keep going when they think about the causes Team Brigham supports.
“Since Team Brigham’s inception in 1998, we have raised more than $5 million to support Center for Community Health and Health Equity programs that improve the health and opportunities of the underserved in our communities,” said Katie Fallon, events officer, in the BWH Development Office.
In addition to CHAT, the funds raised also benefit the Student Success Jobs Program (SSJP) in providing internships for high school and college students, as well as monthly workshops and personal consultations to prepare their college applications.
The funds also go a long way in supporting victims of domestic violence through the Passageway program’s emergency fund.
“Some of those funds provide back-to-school clothing for approximately 100 children whose mothers are victims of domestic violence,” said Fallon. “It also supplies them with items such as food, clothing, transportation, changes in apartment and home locks, rental and utilities assistance and more.”
It’s not too late to support Team Brigham runners in meeting their collective goal of raising $280,000. Click here for more information.