Lots of pink ribbons were on display throughout the 2018 Event at Rebecca Farm to promote breast cancer awareness and the Halt Cancer At X initiative. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Halt Cancer at X, the fundraising campaign created in 2012 in memory of The Event at Rebecca Farm founder Becky Broussard, continues to make huge strides each year. To date the initiative has contributed $222,000 to local breast cancer patient support organizations and another $320,000 to national breast cancer research initiatives.
For 2018, Halt Cancer at X has announced that it will award $47,200 in grants to local cancer support organizations to help sustain programs that benefit cancer patients and survivors in the Flathead Valley and beyond. The funds were raised during The Event at Rebecca Farm through a combination of parking donations, silent auction proceeds, and donations from competitors and individuals.
“I can’t believe how far Halt Cancer has come. To be able to support so many local programs each year and really make a difference means so much to me,” Sarah Broussard says. “We are definitely more than just horses. We really care about this community.”
The 2018-2019 recipients:
Save a Sister was this year’s largest grant recipient, taking home an award of $19,000. The funds will help support the group’s high-risk breast cancer screening program, which covers the cost of screening mammograms so breast cancer can be detected earlier. In the last 10 years, Save a Sister has provided more than 1,000 mammograms to women at risk for developing the disease.
“The goal of this program is to prevent breast cancer, and if we can’t prevent it, to detect it as early as possible,” says Dr. Amanda Beer of Save a Sister. “Through this program, and the massive amount of hours from my amazing team, we are definitely making a difference in this community and we could not do it without the funds from Halt Cancer at X.”
Cancer Support and Survivorship received a grant of $15,700. The organization offers a vast array of programs to promote community and education amongst cancer patients and survivors. Their offerings include support groups, nutrition classes and organized outings such as hikes, rafting trips and snowshoeing excursions. A portion of the grant funds will also support a retreat in Essex along with the Halt Cancer at X kitchen, where healthy cooking and nutrition classes are held.
Also receiving grants funds was Flathead Cancer Aid Services, which was awarded $10,000. The nonprofit provides financial assistance to cancer patients for things that insurance doesn’t cover such as rent, groceries and travel expenses. Flathead Cancer Aid Services helps to ease the financial burden of cancer patients so they can focus on healing and recovery.
This year’s final recipient was Casting for Recovery, which was awarded a $2,500 grant to help fund a fly-fishing retreat for Flathead Valley women affected by breast cancer. Casting for Recovery’s unique retreat experiences give women a chance to find healing in nature, learn a new skill and be part of a community of cancer patients and survivors.
“It provides a sisterhood for women, it provides an opportunity to get out and enjoy nature and see what nature can do. It’s amazing what being out in a quiet stream, just there with your sisters can do,” says Sarah.
For more information about Halt Cancer at X, visit the website here.
Edited from a press release.
