SUMMERS COUNTY W.Va. (Hinton News) – Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer affecting women. According to statistics, one in eight women will be affected by invasive breast cancer at some point in their life. There’s nothing quite like hearing the words “you have cancer.” Your mind and emotions are all over the place. Honestly, you don’t know what to think or feel.
The women of Summers County are blessed to have an organization called Walk for Her Lifetime that offers much-needed financial support to those fighting that terrible disease. As anyone who has been through it knows, there are many financial burdens put on you along with the diagnosis. According to Walk for Her Lifetime representative Stephanie Willey Elkins, the organization can help with transportation costs, chemotherapy, radiation, lodging and food for patients who must travel out of the area, reconstruction, wigs, turbans, prostheses, and prescription medication.
Elkins explained that Walk for Her Lifetime was created in 1996, and its goal was to help Appalachian Regional Hospitals fight breast cancer through mammograms and educational programs and give financial support to people receiving treatment for breast cancer. The program was not a success. Sadly, the Summers County chapter is the only one still active.
The Summers County chapter has seen what the group can do for friends, neighbors, and relatives who have breast cancer. “We couldn’t give up,” said Stephanie Elkins. “We felt like we would be letting our community down, so with the permission of the ARH corporate officials, we were allowed to continue and keep the Walk for Her Lifetime name.”
To receive financial support from Walk for Her Lifetime, obtain a letter from your doctor confirming your diagnosis and a list of what you need, such as medicine, wigs, etc. Mail to WFHL P.O. Box 825 Hinton WV 25951. The request will then be reviewed by the financial committee. If you qualify, a check will be issued and sent to you. The process usually takes less than a week.
WFHL depends on the generosity of Summers County individuals and businesses to keep going. Various fundraisers are held throughout the year to secure funds to help breast cancer patients.
The next walk is Oct. 7, at 9:30 a.m. It’s the 27th annual such event and will be at the Summers County Memorial Building. Registration on the day of is $20. Please support this wonderful cause.
