The Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital sponsored its annual “Brake for Breakfast” event on Wednesday, October 12. The event is to raise awareness about breast cancer and the need for regular mammograms to ensure early detection of cancer and increase the likelihood of surviving the disease. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Hospital staff stuffed 425 pink bags with information about early detection of breast cancer, small emergency lanterns, bottles of water, bags of nuts, breakfast muffins, string cheese, and mints. Headed by Kathy Hubbard, Communications Manager at the Hospital, the project began at 6:00 a.m. with filling the bags by Paula Davis, Ashley Jensen, Colleen Montgomery, Karren Edwards, Pam Mills, Alicia Bell, and Jean Thomas.  Hospital Administrator John Williams hauled the filled bags to 200 West between the medical clinic and hospital for distribution.

Beginning at 7:00 a.m., cars stopped to pick up bags.  The project concluded about 8:30 when all bags were distributed.  As with every year, the event was well-attended, and saw traffic consistently throughout the morning.  The hope of hospital staff is to keep the importance of preventative care on people’s minds throughout the year, and especially in conjunction with the national month.

As of 2020, Idaho ranked 50th nationally in breast cancer screenings.  This is partly attributed to the large number of rural communities.  The mobile screening bus is designed to increase the number of screenings throughout the county.  Early detection can dramatically increase the rate of survival for all types of cancer, but especially breast cancer, which affects around 1,300 people per 100,000 across the state every year.

The mobile mammography screening bus comes to Malad once each month from Portneuf Medical Center.  Appointments can be made by calling the Hospital.