Ring bells to help increase cancer awareness

Churches across Tennessee are encouraged to ring their bells this Mother’s Day as part of the statewide “Bells for Remembrance” campaign aimed at increasing public awareness about breast cancer and good breast health.

The special observance encourages churches, civic organizations and individuals to ring a bell on Mother’s Day as a tribute to breast cancer survivors, victims and their families. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States, and the risk of getting it increases with age.

“Each year, more than 2000,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer and most of these cases are curable if detected early enough,” said Roberta Esmond, Tennessee’s “Bells for Remembrance” coordinator. “Women give lots of reasons for not getting regular mammograms, but there remains one greater reason to do so – to live a longer and healthier life.”

Since 1999, more than 200 churches across the state have participated in “Bells for Remembrance” traditionally held during Mother’s Day weekend.

“Mother’s Day is a good time for all of us to remind our mothers, grandmothers, daughters and all women in our lives, just how important screening is for the early detection of breast cancer,” Esmond said.

Participants are provided event planning packets free-of-charge that allows them to coordinate their own activity. The packets contain educational materials, celebration suggestions, fact sheets and church bulletin inserts.

“Bells for Remembrance” encourages women to practice good breast health by having an annual mammogram, clinical breast exam and performing monthly breast self-exams. Goal of the event is to increase breast cancer awareness and assure that women are informed about resources within their community for information, screening, treatment and support, Esmond said.

“A mammogram is one of the best tools available to detect breast cancer early, when it can be treated most effectively,” she said. “We hope all women over 40 take the initiative to have annual breast exams and mammograms. I can think of no better time than Mother’s Day to promote mammograms. Early detection in the fight against breast cancer makes a difference. Do it for yourselves, your families and your children.”

Churches, organizations and individuals interested in conducting their own “Bells for Remembrance” can contact Esmond at 1-800-528-2655 Ext. 2664 or by e-mail at [email protected].