Ray of Hope lights way for new Western Sydney mobile BreastScreen van

The Westmead Breast Cancer Institute and the Ray of Hope Fundraising Committee are very pleased to announce that the vision of a new mobile BCI Sunflower Clinic BreastScreen Van for the people of Western Sydney is now becoming a reality thanks to the community’s kind support of the Ray of Hope Fundraising Campaign.

For two years and a half years, the Ray of Hope Committee with the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute have been working towards establishing a mobile BreastScreen service in Western Sydney to increase access to and participation in breast screening services. In August 2010, the Campaign reached its funding target of $1 million to design, construct and commission this innovative new mobile BCI Sunflower Clinic BreastScreen Van. This target could not have been achieved without the generosity of the many corporate and private supporters of the Ray of Hope Dinners held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Generous support of this important project was also contributed through Federal and State bodies.

Recently the tender process for construction of the van was completed with the tender now being awarded. Construction of the van is about to commence, and all other engineering, design and build aspects are in process. Purchase of the van's GE Senographe Essential Digital Mammography Unit has been completed with funding of $350,000 received from the Cancer Institute NSW on behalf of the federal Department of Health and Ageing.

Mrs Karen Vamos, from the Fundraising Committee for Ray of Hope said, “We are so grateful for all contributions, time and funds donated to this worthy cause over the past two and a half years. Particularly by our dedicated Art of Hope supporters: our multi award winning artists including Suey McEnnally, Sophie Gralton, Laura Matthews, Peter Francis Lawrence, Philippa Blair and Caroline Magerl who donated their wonderful artworks to help raise funds for this important mobile screening service for the community of Western Sydney”.

“We would also like to thank Ray of Hope’s official corporate sponsors for their generous support including Principal Sponsor Arab Bank Australia; Gold Sponsor and Principal Print Partner Geon Print and Communications; Gold Sponsors Novartis Oncology, and Channel 9; and Silver Sponsors GE Healthcare, Santos Coffee, Myer and Ralph Lauren Pink Pony”.

Executive Director of the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, Prof John Boyages commented: “Regular screening mammography has been shown through numerous international trials to reduce breast cancer deaths, especially in the over fifties age group”.

“The worthiness of this cause and the need to increase breast screening participation amongst the women of Western Sydney has been further reinforced by the generous funding support received through the Cancer Institute NSW”.

It is anticipated that the new mobile BCI Sunflower Clinic BreastScreen Van will be officially launched by November this year when it will begin providing mobile breast cancer screening to women in Western Sydney communities.

Updates on the van's progress over the coming months will be provided on our website www.bci.org.au

Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for further information