YWCA receives $286K check to help women with cancer

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A local organization has received more than a quarter-million dollars to help low-income women get free cancer screenings and other cancer-related services.

"The foundation is amazing," breast cancer survivor Michelle Armes said. "I wouldn't be here today without them."

Wednesday, Armes stood in front of a crowd at the YWCA of Greater Lafayette and shared her testimony.

"At the age of 40, my doctor advised me to go get a mammogram," Armes explained. "However, I was unemployed and wasn't sure if I wanted to go. I knew the cost was going to be too much for me to handle."

But Armes was able to go to the YWCA in Lafayette where they offer free services to make sure all women, regardless of their financial situation, are able to get help.

"We serve women in 23 counties," YWCA's women's cancer coordinator Heidi Kauffman said. "We pay for them to get breast and cervical cancer screenings. If they need further diagnostic services, then we help them through that process and get them the services they need. And then if they're diagnosed, then we have a patient navigator."

Wednesday, the YWCA was granted more than a quarter-million dollars to continue doing just that. 

"It is my honor and my privilege to let you know that we are granting the YWCA of Greater Lafayette $286,907 dollars," executive director of Komen Central Indiana Dana Curish said. 

It's all a part of a grant funded by Komen Central Indiana. There were 13 other programs across the state that also received a portion of the $1.3 million grant.

Curish said in order to give these grants out to organizations like the YWCA, they raise money through events like the Komen Race for a Cure every year.

"The YWCA has actually diagnosed 194 local women with breast cancer since 2006," Curish said. "That is 194 women who probably would not be alive today had their cancer not been caught."

Since Jan. 1, 10 women in the Greater Lafayette area have been diagnosed with cancer through the YWCA's free services.