NORWICH – The Chenango Health Network, a rural health network whose objectives are to increase access to health and wellness information and to health care services, will continue to advocate for women to be screened for breast cancer and receive follow-up care, thanks to a sizable grant awarded by the Avon Breast Health Outreach Program.

CHN announced this week that the Avon Breast Health Outreach Program has awarded a $60,000 one-year grant to their organization for its “Every Woman in Chenango County Counts Campaign.”

The Every Woman Counts in Chenango County Campaign is a local community-based effort to encourage and help women to have breast cancer screenings. Campaign staff and volunteers conduct outreach activities, recruiting women throughout Chenango County to participate in the Campaign.

Upon joining the Campaign, women agree to follow through with their cancer screenings and be contacted by CHN staff for regular reminders and follow-up inquiries.

CHN staff help women who are uninsured or underinsured enroll in the NYS Cancer Services Program so they may obtain necessary screenings. Staff also help women in need of additional imaging services, biopsies, treatment or second opinions to identify appropriate health care providers.

“This is our twelfth consecutive year receiving funds from the Avon Foundation. I feel that it’s truely been a help to the community,” said Lori Kemmerer, CHN’s Cancer Outreach Program coordinator. “It will allow us to reach more than 650 women here in our county to access treatment and receive early treatment for breast cancer.”

The intent, said Kemmerer, is to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer, and to assure that women in Chenango County are screened and receive follow-up care.

“I think the more knowledge women receive, the more proactive they are. Our goal is for women to advocate for themselves. We want women to speak up and to ask questions to their doctors about their own personal treatment.”