The Morrison Community Hospital Foundation is pleased to announce our 5th Annual Fundraising Event, “Run for the Roses,” will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2013, from 5:30 p.m. to 12:00 midnight at the Whiteside County Fairgrounds.  This Kentucky Derby themed event will feature great food, lively libations (drinks), fabulous prizes, exciting audience participation, games, and a live and silent auction.

We encourage ladies to come wearing those decorative Kentucky Derby hats.  Men can come with fedoras, jockey or horse trainer outfits, or anything that suits your fancy.  If you don’t have a hat, come ready to bid on hats custom-made by our hospital staff and other volunteers.

Proceeds of the event will be used to purchase the Bennett Mammography unit.  This machine will allow us to obtain clear images of potential cancer cells in breast tissue. 

Now, some have asked, “Didn’t you already raise funds to purchase a mammography unit?”

To answer that question I consulted Carol, our Director of Radiology at the Hospital.  The process of producing a digital mammographic image in computed radiography requires five main components.  Funds raised in past events have contributed to the upgrade of many of these components. 

The funds from this year will be used to upgrade the unit, by purchasing the Bennett Countour Acquisition Station.  This part produces low-energy e-rays to penetrate the breast tissue, which allows another part of the machine to capture the image. 

This station consistently passes the MQSA and ACR stringent testing guidelines to become an American College of Mammography accredited facility. This is the highest standard in mammography accreditation.  This unit is constantly being upgraded, and therefore it is difficult to find replacement parts.

At MCH, we would like to continue to provide our patients with the most advanced technology in digital imaging.  Therefore, to help offset the cost of the Bennett Countour Acquisition station mammography machine, proceeds from this year’s Big Squeeze event will be used to purchase this key component.

We would love to see a large crowd at this event.  Seating is limited, so please contact Mick Welding at the hospital at 815-772-5510 or just drop into the hospital.  You can stop at Fitzgerald Pharmacy, 124 E. Main Street, in Morrison, IL, to purchase your $45-per-person ticket.  If you would like a table of eight, the cost is only $40 per ticket.

So round up your friends and family and come out to the Whiteside County Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 5, at 5:30 p.m. to support a wonderful cause.  Thank you!

Mick Welding, MCH Marketing Director