Health Report: Fairbanks Breast Cancer Detection Center to host 16th annual Gala

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The Fairbanks Breast Cancer Detection Center (BCDC) will be hosting their 16th annual gala this Friday.

According to Jacyn Debaun, Marketing and Development Director for BCDC, the event acts not just as a fundraiser but also as a way to educate.

“Here at BCDC we are not only about doing mammograms,” Debaun explained. “We’re also about education and getting the word out that early detection is key. With early detection, breast cancer is survivable up to 99%, and so our gala not only gets that education out there, and it’s a fun event for the community, but it also really helps us fundraise to keep our clinic and mobile program healthy around the state.”

This will be the first gala since 2019 due to COVID-19, and this year BCDC will be taking precautions to ensure a safe environment for those in attendance.

“This [gala] is a postponement from last year,” Debaun elaborated, “so this is still our 2021 Gala happening in 2022. It’s our 16th Gala, so we’re calling it our ‘Sweet 16′ and we’re excited to have an event again after COVID.”

Debaun continued, “So a few COVID precautions... for one, we are having less and less people at the events. We will only have 30 tables this year, and we are highly recommending that people wear masks, as they attend the event, especially at registration. We have that kind of close contact area, but as they sit down with their guests there is dinner and drinks so masks can be removed then, but we do ask and highly recommend that people wear masks as they come into the event.”

At this time, tickets are nearly sold out - but for those who are unable to attend in person, there are other ways to contribute.

“If someone can’t come to the gala and they still want to contribute as always, they can call here at the clinic,” Debaun explained. “They can make a donation, they can make an appointment for a mammogram... actually people who have insurance who also get their mammogram here, that really helps us support our Mammo Assist program for those that can’t afford their mammogram. You can also make a donation online, and if someone’s interested in participating in the silent auction portion of the event, that is all done via mobile bidding - so they can also contact the clinic ahead of time, give us their cell phone number, and they can be a part of that online auction

The gala will be taking place at the Westmark hotel on Friday, March 4th. More information on the event can be found on the Breast Cancer Detection Agency’s website.

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