SPOTLIGHT ON ‘BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH’

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY—Senator Sue Serino (R, C, I—Hyde Park) today joined the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation and community leaders to help kick off the upcoming ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’ here in the Hudson Valley. At the morning’s press conference in front of the Poughkeepsie Journal Building, Serino announced that she has once again secured $20,000 to help fund the Foundation’s critically important ‘Medical Gap Care Fund’ which provides financial assistance to people in treatment whose medical insurance too often falls short.

“A breast cancer diagnosis can change the life of a patient and their families in an instant, and the last thing they should have to worry about is deciding between which bills to pay and covering the cost of treatment. All a patient should have to focus on is recovering, and the Medical Gap Care Fund empowers them to do that,” said Senator Serino. “The team at Miles of Hope goes above and beyond to support patients throughout our community and I am proud to have the opportunity to help them advance their mission. On behalf of our community, I thank them for their tremendous commitment to the women and families of our local area.”

"We are indebted to Senator Serino for once again securing this grant for us from the NYS Department of Health for women in Dutchess and Putnam Counties with financial emergencies while they are in treatment for breast cancer. Senator Serino realizes how costly a breast cancer diagnosis can be and how Miles of Hope can step in and help people affected by breast cancer in the Hudson Valley," said Pari Forood, Executive Director of Miles of Hope.

Founded in 2004 by Dana Efron Cathy Varunok, Miles of Hope is a local nonprofit organization that began with the mission of funding support services for people affected by breast cancer in the Hudson Valley. This is the third consecutive year that Serino has successfully secured funds to bolster the organization’s Medical Gap Care Fund, which provides financial assistance to people in treatment in Dutchess and Putnam Counties who have a financial emergency not covered by insurance.

For more information about the upcoming Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Medical Gap Care program, upcoming events and unique programs and services, please visit milesofhope.org.

The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation will also be represented at this year’s Senior Golden Gathering hosted by Senator Serino, and a representative will be on hand at the event to provide information and answer questions about their services. The event is being held this Saturday, September 23^rd from 9:30 am until 12:30 pm at Arlington High School.

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