Seeing pink at the Sanders Co. Fair
by Robin Oday, KPAX News Coverage
PLAINS- As the Sanders County Fair is marking 100 years, Chicks and Chaps board members and fans will also be celebrating their first fundraising event in Sanders County on Friday, September 2nd.
Board member Suzanne VonHeeder says she's thrilled for their first event in Plains and the timing couldn't be better, "breast cancer is huge. It's huge and you know, Sanders County seems to be full of it. I'm 40 and it's time for me to be careful and do the mammogram and take care of yourself."
Proceeds from the rodeo clinic and auctions will go toward the Sanders County Cancer Network and the Clark Fork Valley Hospital.
Just as you'll be seeing more pink at the fair this year, The Clark Fork Valley Hospital is seeing more out-of-town patients visit their facility for their new state-of-the-art digital mammography equipment.
Radialogic Technologist, Carlane Jensen says the new equipment is more accurate than previous methods and it allows for speedy results.
"If there is something that we have found, and we have to call the patient back, we have them come in, we do additional mammo images, then they'll have an ultrasound to follow. We talk to the radiologist in Kalispell that day and they do get results that day."
The days of traveling to Spokane or Missoula for a digital screening are now a thing of the past for women in the Clark Fork Valley.
"You can go down here and have a mammogram and everything checked out. You don't have to travel," VonHeeder said.
A nurse practitioner from the Clark Fork Valley Hospital will also be hosting a wellness program at the fair this year.
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October the hospital will also be offering free and reduced cost screenings.