Fundraising update
As of noon the Gift From The Heart Radiothon has raised $67,550 of it’s $165,000 goal.

16th Annual Gift From The Heart Radiothon is underway

A long-running community fundraiser aimed at improving local breast cancer care is now underway on the South Shore.

The 16th Annual Gift From The Heart Radiothon is taking place today on CKBW and Country 100.7, bringing listeners together once again in support of patients at South Shore Regional Hospital.

Last year’s event raised more than $171,000, funding MOLLI technology that allows breast cancer surgery to be performed closer to home for South Shore patients.

Organizers say that success demonstrated the impact community support can have on local health care.

This year’s campaign is focused on expanding access to breast MRI screening in the region — technology currently available at only three hospitals in Nova Scotia.

Over the past two years, more than 100 patients from the South Shore have had to travel to Halifax, Sydney, or Yarmouth for MRI imaging, often followed by additional trips for biopsies and further testing.

Health-care leaders say adding breast MRI capability locally would reduce travel, shorten wait times, and ease stress for patients already facing the uncertainty of a possible diagnosis. Breast MRI is recommended for people at higher risk of breast cancer and can provide clearer imaging for those with dense breast tissue or implants.

Planned equipment for South Shore Regional Hospital includes an MRI breast coil and a vacuum-assisted biopsy system, allowing imaging and biopsy procedures to happen in a single visit.

Donations collected during today’s radiothon will go toward bringing that capability to the South Shore, with organizers encouraging residents to once again support care closer to home.