SCP shows continued support for ILoveBoobies

SCP shows continued support for ILoveBoobies

The ILoveBoobies breast cancer charity’s bra donation campaign is back and SCP Radiology will once again provide its full support to the project. In aid of women with limited resources, patients are invited to bring along any new or gently worn normal, sports, or mastectomy bras when they come for their mammograms at SCP.

According to Phillippa Brinkman of ILoveBoobies, last year’s inaugural campaign was a resounding success and the response overwhelming. “As it was the first year of collecting gently-used or unwanted bras, we had no idea what to expect and, to be honest, we didnโ€™t keep a tally of all the bras we received.

“All I know it that the collection boxes lined the walls of our offices as we organised and sorted them.ย  We estimate we received in excess of 2000 bras and are delighted to say that we have been able since then to donate a bra to every woman screened by ILoveBoobies, in the Western Cape.”

As an official mammography partner of ILoveBoobies, SCP Radiology installed bra collection boxes at all its mammography departments and encouraged patients, friends and fellow Capetonians to donate bras of all styles and shapes. “Once again this year, we have collection boxes at nine of our branches and will be collecting bras until the end of October,” explains Madelein de Wet, Clinical Operations Manager of SCP.

She invites patients to support the campaign by dropping off their donations at SCP’s Tygervalley Mammography Centre or the Panorama, Louis Leipoldt, Durbanville, Cape Gate, Paarl, Malmesbury, Worcester and Vredenburg branches.

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Bra donation bins are placed at nine of SCP's branches.
Bra donation bins are placed at nine of SCP’s branches.

Supporting ILoveBoobies beneficiaries

It has also been just over a year since SCP announced its official partnership with the organisation. SCP assists patients, referred by ILoveBoobies, for either a mammogram or ultrasound. “We have provided imaging for women on an ongoing basis throughout the year and have also seen patients for six-month follow-up ultrasound scans,” says Madelein. “Weโ€™re thrilled to be a partner with ILoveBoobies and to be able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of women who are not able to access quality healthcare easily.”

We extend a special thank you to Lelani Terblanche and her reception team at the Tygervalley Mammography Centre, Chanel Brand and Carol Britz, who provide invaluable administrative support to the initiative. The mammography team in Paarl also deserves special mention as most of the referrals of the past year have come from the rural areas surrounding Paarl.

โ€œTo our staff I would like to say, the professional care you provide to these women goes above and beyond your normal duties in our practice,โ€ says SCP partner and Tygervalley Mammography Centre branch manager Dr Salomine Theron. โ€œWithout you, it would not have been a success. We are grateful for your enthusiastic support of the initiative.โ€

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Special mention goes to the mammography team in Paarl, where most of the past year's beneficiaries received their mammograms.

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Breast cancer awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to ramp up awareness and support women by encouraging and educating them about self-examination, annual clinical breast exams, and mammograms.

ILoveBoobies is a well-known NGO offering free clinical breast cancer screenings to women with limited access to health care and invite patients and South Africans in general to get involved with their efforts in the community.

More about their work, and information about additional bra collection points, can be found at www.iloveboobies.org.za.