Patient survives with a little help from her friends

Christmas party fund-raiser to help needy women fight breast cancer

CROWN POINT It may not seem like a lot of money, but to some area women, $855 recently donated to the Breast Care Center at Saint Anthony Medical Center could mean a fortune to their health.

The proceeds were raised at a theme Christmas party, recently hosted by Georgia and Richard Sharpe at their Cedar Lake home, on behalf of their friend, Sherri Ham, of Crown Point. Ham, who has known the Sharpes nearly 20 years, is a breast cancer survivor.

The Sharpes asked attendees of their annual get-together to forgo the usual contributions to their hosts and to instead set their sights on the cancer war. The 50 guests, one of whom recently was laid off from her job, came through, despite the tough economy.

“Because Sherri is going through all this, I asked everyone to bring a pink ornament and an envelope containing a donation on her behalf,” Georgia Sharpe said. “Given the economy, I thought the amount of the donations was great. People who know Sherri love her as much as we do. We all have so much to be grateful for.”

Ham, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in April, says she donated the money to the Breast Cancer Center “because I wanted to keep the money in the community. I have been a Saint Anthony patient all my life.”

The money is earmarked for women who otherwise might not be able to afford early detection.

“Mammograms run about $200 or so, so this money will pay for three or four of them,” Ham says. “Hopefully, this will encourage other people – have a New Year’s Eve party and make it a charity fund-raiser.”

Becky Grove, Breast Care Center manager, said she was honored to accept the donation on the center’s behalf.

“Early detection is key. Many women, like Sherri, tend to put their families first because they can’t afford testing.’’

Grove added Indiana “still is not where it should be’’ as far as the number of women receiving mammograms.

“Women aren’t getting them as much as they are needed. A party like this helps to raise awareness of giving, of sharing a story.” Grove added breast cancer treatment has “come a long way in the last few years.”

Saint Anthony Medical Center is located at 1201 S. Main St. For more information, call (219) 757-6285. A cancer hotline is available at (219) 757-6394.