April 11th event to raise funds for digital mammography equipment

The Health First Foundation will host the 26th annual Health First Benefit Ball, celebrating the theme Barefoot in the Park from the Broadway comedy.

This year's event will be Friday, April 11, from 6:30 to midnight at the Clemente Center in Melbourne. Guests of this black-tie affair will enjoy an evening of dinner and dancing, while saluting women's health and raising funds to obtain the latest, state-of-the-art digital mammography equipment for breast cancer screenings. Past ball sponsors and individual donors have helped the hospital system raise more than $3.8 million to date for needed community healthcare programs and services.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women, but early detection through annual mammograms can make a difference. This latest breakthrough in breast diagnostic technology - digital mammography equipment - is helping detect many breast cancers in the early stages, up to two years before they can be felt by a patient or her physician. With this new technology, radiologists can manipulate digital images to get the best possible view, adjust contrast or brightness, or zoom in for a closer look if needed. These benefits underline why it is part of Health Firsts mission to acquire this advanced digital mammography technology.

Digital mammography equipment will help improve the standard of care for women of all ages who are at risk for breast cancer, said chair of the 2008 Health First Annual Benefit Ball Lisa Adams of Melbourne, herself a two-time breast cancer survivor. "Breast cancer is a disease that strikes one in every eight women each year, but I am proof that with regular and early detection, a woman can and will win out over this horrible disease."

According to Adams and her Vice Chair, Nancy Taylor, funds from the 2008 Annual Benefit Ball will not only help purchase this new digital mammography equipment, but also help fund digital mammography screenings for women who do not have insurance or resources to have this testing. Through this program Health First has already made mammogram testing available to thousands of women who are at risk for cancer, said Adams.

Tickets to the black-tie event are $200 per person and sponsorship opportunities range from $500 to $25,000.

Melissa Flammio-Clark, underwriting co-chair for this years ball, along with Brad Roub, are in charge of soliciting business and corporations to sponsor tables at the event. Sponsors will receive special recognition according to level of contribution, including an invitation to a special thank you party at the home of Chuck Clemente of Lansing Island. This year a special Pink Ribbon sponsorship opportunity is available, giving individuals a way to pay tribute to specific breast cancer survivors by name.

For tickets or more information, call the Health First Foundation office at 321-434-7140.