Tacoma Rainiers Think Pink

TACOMA, Wash. — For the second consecutive year, the Tacoma Rainiers have teamed up with the Carol Milgard Breast Center to host Pink at the Park – an event held at Cheney Stadium aimed at helping increase annual mammogram screenings to medically underserved women in the South Sound.

On Sunday, August 19, the Rainiers will dedicate their 1:35 p.m. game against the Reno Aces to the breast center and their efforts towards the early detection of breast cancer in our community.

The event begins with a pre-game ceremony highlighting one breast center patient’s story of her battle with breast cancer. Survivors, along with their families and friends, will then be invited on field to participate in a “Circle of Hope” recognizing their battle and eventual triumph over the disease.

Every Rainiers player and member of the coaching staff will be outfitted with specialty pink jerseys for the event. The game-worn specialty jerseys will be auctioned during an in-game silent auction, or as part of a live auction held immediately after game. All proceeds from the auction will be given to the Carol Milgard Breast Center for the purpose of funding screening mammograms to underserved women in our community.

“We are excited to team up with the Tacoma Rainiers again not only to raise awareness, but continue our mission to help all women in our community receive a mammogram,” says Jacquelyn Ostrom, executive director of the breast center. “We do not want cost or special circumstances to become a barrier for getting screened.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer found in women, with 1 in 8 developing the disease in their lifetime. Early detection through practices such as mammogram screenings can provide diagnosed women a 95 percent higher likelihood of survival.

“Yearly mammograms save lives,” says Dr. Khai Tran, medical director at the Carol Milgard Breast Center. “The earlier that we can diagnose breast cancer, the greater our chances to successfully treat the disease.”

Since opening in 2009, the Carol Milgard Breast Center’s mission has been to provide sustainable breast health services to all women in the community in a caring confident environment that fosters confidence, comfort, peace and dignity for each individual. In 2011, the breast center served over 100,000 patients and provided more than $488,000 in compassionate care for individuals unable to afford needed services.

The breast center is a non-profit organization whose mission relies upon community support. For more information about the Carol Milgard Breast Center or to contribute a donation, please call (253) 759-2622 or visit the breast center online at www.carolmilgardbreastcenter.org.

To purchase tickets to Pink at the Park or another game during the remainder of the Rainiers 2012 season, please visit www.tacomarainiers.com or call (253) 752-7707 or email tickets@tacomarainiers.com .