Educational

 Breast Health Education Outreach (BHEO)

With the addition of a New Mission Coordinator, programs are heating up at our Tri-Cities Komen for the Cure ®.  In upcoming months, your Komen Affiliate will launch a new Breast Health Education Outreach (BHEO) program.  With education being central to our mission, we are excited about the expanding opportunities to reach more women, young adults, and families in the community.

The BHEO program is friendly to anyone of any profession.  You don't have to be an expert to spread Komen's message about breast education. All you need is a desire to learn and raise awareness about basic information concerning breast health and cancer.  Our BHEO educational goal is to spread breast health information to local businesses, organizations, schools, churches, and community groups.  It is our desire that everyone becomes knowledgeable about breast health and early detection.  As a result, our communities will know the importance of early detection and the life saving measures it may ensue.

With the launch of our new Breast Health Education Outreach program comes the expansion of our volunteer base.  Each education volunteer will be trained to conduct culturally sensitive educational presentations.  These individuals will be educated and well prepared to serve our local communities at educational events and local health fairs.  It is our hope that our volunteers become more than a group of individuals, but a family united together to fight breast cancer.  Our volunteers are the heart and soul of our Affiliate; and it is through them that we have made significant advances in the fight against breast cancer. For example, when breast cancer is found before it spreads beyond the breast, the five-year survival rate in the U.S. is 98 percent. This is up from 74 percent in 1982. We are so proud of the fact that there are more than 2.5 millions breast cancer survivors alive in the U.S. today - the largest group of all cancer survivors.

But, even with such success, there is much work to do - in the U.S., nearly 200,000 women and men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die this year. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.  We welcome you to join our group of volunteers and help us educate women about the importance of early detection!

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please send an email to missioncoordinator@komentricities.org or contact your local Affiliate at 423-765-9313. We hope to make your experience with Komen a rich and rewarding one.  Join us in our fight to save lives and end breast cancer forever.

Since 1982, Komen has invested nearly $1.5 billion towards breast cancer awareness, support, and research.  As a result, Komen has become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.