Ottumwa Regional Health Center hosts fourth annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk
October 14, 2024
OTTUMWA, Iowa — The annual Ottumwa Regional Health Center Breast Cancer Awareness Walk returned for its fourth year on Saturday.
The Health Center hosts this event every year to help raise awareness about the disease.
Approximately 13.1% of women will be diagnosed with female breast cancer at some point during their lifetime according to the National Cancer Institute.
Visitors to the hospital who walked today learned more about the disease, the early warning signs, and the importance of regular testing.
Students from Indian Hills Community College volunteered to help out at the event.
The warriors attending the event said they wanted to help give back to the Ottumwa community by helping spread awareness.
"We decided to team up with the hospital today because we're part of Indian Hills Community College, we're part of Ottumwa," said Indian Hills Student Lilly Reneker. "We really want to team up with the community hospitals just to help them and help the patients and bring the community together."
Representatives from Ottumwa Regional Health Center said they were thrilled to work with the students.
After Saturday's event, they hope that the students will continue to do their part to educate others about breast cancer.
"I hope that the students have a better understanding of breast cancer, said Lisa Garrison, Director of Imaging, Radiation Oncology, Cardiac Cath Lab, and Chest Pain Coordinator at Ottumwa Regional Health Center. "I know younger people don't necessarily, fully understand breast cancer early detection. So just hoping to bring some awareness to them, and then they can help us spread the awareness."