Jen Neely leads efforts against breast cancer

Supporting the Komen mission is a natural fit for Jen Neely.

As a registered mammographer and radiation therapist at North Idaho Imaging Center, Neely has met a lot of women who suffered because their breast cancer was discovered too late.

When she started working in health care 13 years ago, the breast cancers that were found were very large. This was partly due to a lack of education, but also because women lacked access to services. That’s when Neely knew she had to do something to help.

Neely became one of the founding board members of the Coeur d’Alene affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Currently, she is completing a two-year term as volunteer president of the affiliate board. She has also served a one-year term as vice president and a two-year term as grant chairwoman.

“I consider it an honor and a privilege to work with the public, educating them on the importance of breast health,” Neely said.

The Coeur d’Alene Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was founded in 1999 by a group of volunteers committed to saving and improving the lives of people affected by breast cancer in North Idaho. Since its inception, the affiliate has raised more than $350,000 through itsmajor fund-raising event, the Komen Coeur d’Alene Race for the Cure.

This year’s sixth annual Komen Coeur d’Alene Race for the Cure will be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 25 at North Idaho College. Last year 2,300 participants completed the one-mile walk or the 5K run/walk. Organizers hope 2,500 will compete this year.

Registration and T-shirt pickup begins at 8 a.m. on race day. There is a survivor group photo at 9:15 a.m.

Race entry fees are $25 per adult if the application is postmarked by Sept. 21. Participants can register after that date for $30, although T-shirts are not guaranteed on race day. Inline skates and pets are not allowed on the course.

Honorary chairs for this year’s Race for the Cure are the Think Pink Inc. group consisting of Melanie Adams, Crissie Hardy, Jen Henriksen and Katie Shamberg. This group of enterprising college women has collected more than $11,000 through various fund-raisers. They have all been affected by breast cancer in some way.

In the past five years, the affiliate has given grants in Idaho’s five northern counties. The money is used to provide breast health education, clinical breast exams, and mammograms to women of all ages.

The affiliate awarded more than $90,000 to STEP project grants. STEP grants are dedicated to screening, treatment, education and prevention.

The Panhandle Health District was awarded $71,933 for “Education and Screening for Early Diagnosis of Breast Cancer.” Last year more than 350 women were screened, and eight cases of cancer were found.

Boundary Community Hospital was awarded $19,591 for “Breast Health Awareness,” an outreach and education program focused on the Hispanic and Native American community. The Benewah Medical and Wellness Center was awarded $1,800 to help Native American breast cancer survivors from the five northern counties attend the “Roots of Strength” cancer support annual conference.

Mary Lou Piazza is a 21-year breast cancer survivor who went through a stem cell transplant of her own bone marrow nine years ago. The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is very near and dear to her heart.

“Each year it warms my heart to watch the overwhelming generosity of the community we live in,” Piazza said.

The research and educational part of Race for the Cure is what she feels most passionate about.

“The most important message I would pass on is early detection saves lives. Monthly breast exams and annual mammograms are a vital part of that sea of pink hats that we witness on race day.”

“Breast cancer does not care who you are or where you live,” Neely said. “It is important to reach all of those in our service area regardless of ethnic, cultural and financial barriers. We all play a part in the Komen mission.”

“The Komen Coeur d’Alene affiliate has helped to fund some of the unmet needs in our service area,” but there is still much work to be done. Together we can do this,” Neely said.