Winston County Journal
The faces of fighters are usually shown with bruises and scars from their battles. In Thursday's BATTLE Luncheon, the faces of the ladies and men battling breast cancer where smiling and bright faces filling the room at Lake Tiak O'Khata.
These were faces of hope knowing the blows to breast cancer came from spreading the knowledge such as the importance of early detection.
Peggy Crawford, co-founder of the event, opened the event and welcomed the crowd to an opportunity to spotlight the battle against breast cancer.
As part of the event, Crawford memorialized Beverly Powell. She told of Powell's 12-year fight against breast cancer and although she had passed away she continued the fight through a small donation to the BATTLE luncheon group. Crawford announced those funds would be used to hold a mock BATTLE Luncheon on November 2. The November event would be for representatives from across the state to see how effective a small luncheon can be in spreading information about early detection and to see how it has been successful in Winston County.
Dr. James S. McIlwain, president of Information & Quality Healthcare, IQH of Mississippi applauded Winston County's efforts during his speech to the group and noted the success Winston County was having in getting women to focus on early detection.
"You make a might force against breast cancer," said McIlwain. He noted that the one good fact about breast cancer is that it is 95 percent curable if caught early enough and that events like the luncheon helped pass on that knowledge and get women to get screenings and prevent breast cancer from taking more lives. McIlwain noted Winston County had a 63.8 percent of the women receiving screenings compared to 52.3 percent across the state.
"I applaud what you have done," added McIlwain. "I challenge you to do more." He asked that they get 80 more women to get screenings and 80 more after that.
Following, Dr. McIlwain, attorney Linda Hampton told her own personal story of fighting breast cancer and how she perceived and what she gained from the experience.
After Hampton's words, eight breast cancer survivors showed breast cancer had not taken their fashion sense or smiles as they modeled clothes from several local stores.
The Battle Luncheon Committee thanked the models, businesses and others for helping bring about such a great event with a special thank you to Lake Tiak O'Khata.
Plans for an even better BATTLE Luncheon for 2006 is underway with September 28 set as the date.
The luncheon is provided in part by Winston County Extension Service, MS Academy of Family Physicians and Winston Medical Center. Winston Medical Center will be offering after hour mammograms during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Sponsors for luncheon included: AARP No. 2859, Antioch M.B. Church, B&P Dollar, Beck Funeral Home, Bennett's Do-IT Center, Center Ridge M.B. Church, Charley McCool's Prescriptions and Gifts, D&T Services Inc., Dan's Discount Drugs, Dominion Realty, Fair Oil Company, Family Medicine Clinic of Louisville, First Baptist Church-Women's Ministry, Friendship M.B. Church, FUMC Bible Study Class, FUMC United Methodist Women, GT Physical Therapy, Hampton Funeral Home, Lonely Valley CME Church, Louisville Bankers' Association ( Bancorp South, Citizen's Bank, Renasant Bank, Regions Bank), Louisville Medical Associates, Louisville Medical Supply, Mount Moriah M.B. Church, Mr. and Mrs. David Harrington, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hudspeth, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Harris, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Caracci, Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Taylor Jr., MSU- ES FNP, Mt. Sinai M.B. Church, New Zion Baptist Church, Nowell Funeral Home, Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church, Pleasant Grove United Methodist Women, Porter Funeral Home, Queen Ester Chapter, Red Hills Fitness Center, Sgt. Terry Waldrip, Silver Goose Gifts and Jewelry, Spring Hill M.B. Church, Sta Home Hospice, Sunflower Food Store No. 3, T.L. Ward Electric, TEMTCO Steel, Terry Martin Automotive Group, The Jewel Shoppe, Unity Baptist Church, Wesley United Methodist Women, Wess Chapel Baptist Church, Winston County Co-Op AAL, Winston County Farm Bureau, Winston Medical Center, Winston Rehab, and Yarbrough Garden Center.
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