The Power Of A Dollar

George was delivering a new replacement mammography van for our Mobile Unit 1, driving from Phoenix, Arizona to Houston. Our logo and the van’s bright pink color sparkled in the sunshine and could be seen for miles. About 20 miles outside of El Paso, he stopped at a service station. While waiting for the tank to fill, a very beat-up pick-up truck pulled up beside him. The driver reached out of his window and pushed a waded, partly torn dollar bill into George’s hand. In broken English he said, “For The Rose!” George, stunned, tried to explain that he was just a driver and that he didn’t actually work for The Rose. The man continued to talk and finally George understood: The Rose had cared for his mother. At the man’s insistence that The Rose needed this $1 bill, George accepted the crumpled bill and sat it on the dashboard. After an 800 mile trip, he arrived safely at The Rose with the dollar bill and a touching story to share.

The Infinity of Giving

At The Rose, we reduce deaths from breast cancer by providing access to screening, diagnostics, and treatment services to any woman regardless of her ability to pay. Women often find The Rose during a time of need in their life and because of the treatment they receive through us, are able to go on to make a better life for themselves, cancer-free.  Family members and friends of these women and others, also feel the care The Rose provides to their loved one.

Many times, the same men and women who are touched by The Rose during their time of need make a special effort to give back to The Rose. Some events from friends and family that have become special contributors to The Rose include 30 for Ana and Jump for The Rose.

Other times, friends and family remember the warmth that The Rose gave to their family and give what they can, even if it’s $1. Each contribution, no matter the size, is valued by The Rose. With each dollar, we can provide more women with access to quality breast health care.

Hard Rock Houston Rocks Pinktober in Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Hard Rock Houston Rocks Pinktober, benefitting The Rose, Houston's leading non-profit breast cancer organization.
Two performances:

The Slags & Love Street Light Circus

Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 9:00 PM CDT (8:30 PM Doors)
Hard Rock Cafe - Houston
in Houston, TX

Tickets: $10.00

Kady Malloy & Low Man's Joe
Thursday, Oct 22, 2009 9:00 PM CDT (8:30 PM Doors)
Hard Rock Cafe - Houston
in Houston, TX
Tickets: $10.00

For more information or to buy tickets, please click here.

Check out The Rose on KPRC Houston!

At 31 years old, Cindy Ayure learned she had stage 3 breast cancer.

"Everybody asks, 'Why me?' or 'That's not fair' or 'I don't want to die,'" said Ayure. "All those things kind of go through your head."

The mother of two has been through a year-long battle with her illness.

"I picked myself up, and I fought and I'm fighting," said Ayure. "I can safely say I haven't cried since that day."

But Ayure may have never learned she had cancer in time for treatment without the help of one local organization.

When Ayure first discovered a lump in her breast, a mammogram was too expensive. Even though she worked two jobs, she could not afford health insurance.

That's when a doctor referred her to The Rose, a local nonprofit that screens women for breast cancer regardless of their financial situation...

Click Here to watch the news story by KPRC reporter Alana Gomez Dong.

Stories of Hope

The Rose is embarking on a new project for our waiting room. We’d like to showcase breast cancer survivor photos and stories of hope in our waiting area to show women and men, who may be anxious, that breast cancer is not a death sentence. We are currently looking for breast cancer survivors who would like to be part of this special project.

All participants will be asked to come to The Rose for a 30 minute professional photo session. They may also bring any close family members who they would like to have their photo taken with (up to 5 additional people unless special permission is granted). CDs of the photos will be mailed to participants after their session.

If you or someone you know would like to be a part of this project, please e-mail Maggie Phillips at mphillips@therose.org or call 281.464.5151.

More ways to support The Rose: GoodSearch.com

You can raise money for the The Rose just by searching the Internet at GoodSearch.com.

You use GoodSearch.com like any other search engine - the site is powered by Yahoo! - but each time you do, money is generated for us.

Here’s how it works:
1. Go to http://www.goodsearch.com
2. Type The Rose (Houston, TX) into the “I support” box and click on “verify”
3. Search the Internet just like you would with any search engine
4. Since GoodSearch shares its advertising revenue with charities and schools, every time you search the Internet at GoodSearch, you’ll be earning money for us.
GoodSearch also has a toolbar you can download from the homepage so that you can search right from the top of your browser. http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/

You can keep track of our estimated earnings by clicking on “amount raised” once you designate us as your organization of choice. The more people who use the site, the more money we’ll earn, so please spread the word!!

In Her Words...

Patient Story by
Cindy Ayure
The Rose Sponsored Patient

Until recently, cancer, like crime, was something that happened to other people and breast cancer, like strokes and Alzheimer, something that happened to older folks. I found out the hard way that neither holds true and we are all susceptible to what is a very real part of life for many families.

My personal experience with cancer began on October 15, 2008 when I felt a lump on my breast. That day, I was confident that it would be an inconsequential inflammation. After all, I was only 31 years old. I set up an appointment a few days later to visit a doctor at The Rose at my husband’s insistence believing that the results of my exam would be normal.

My first visit to The Rose for a mammogram and ultrasound was in itself an experience. I did not know what to expect, but knowing that it was a clinic for breast cancer that offered financial assistance to women like me had given me a vague notion that the level of care and compassion would be less than I could expect in high paying facilities. I was astonished to find that I was wrong and with the passage of time extremely grateful for the personal attention I have received during each and every one of my visits, particularly from my navigator, Sally to whom I owe the excellent medical attention I have received at both The Rose and MD Anderson.

The results of the mammogram and the ultrasound were not clear so the doctor recommended a biopsy. On Dec. 5, 2008 I was told that I had breast cancer, but more importantly I was told that I would receive the assistance I would need, from wigs and advice to the coordination and the transfer of my care to MD Anderson.

Since then, I have been on Chemotherapy, with all that it implies. My hair is gone, my stomach too often rebels, and there are days when it is a challenge to get myself moving. And yet, I find that I am very grateful for what I have and what this journey has brought to my life.

I am often in awe of the amount of support I have received from everyone, even strangers who stop me in stores and public places to give me hope by sharing their own experiences with me. I am the focus of multiple prayer groups and the beneficiary of countless acts of kindness from co-workers and friends, all of which have made a tremendous difference for me and my family. The prayers, I have no doubt, have given me the determination that I need to go on with my treatment and the acts of kindness serve as a constant reminder that I am not alone even through this difficult part of my journey. I have found that as disheartening as it can be to face the realities of cancer, there is a tremendous amount of support that gives me strength and hope.

I know that the road before me is difficult and long and at least for me the hardest part is the unknown. No matter how much medicine has advanced and how much people want to help me, I know that every case is different and there is no way for anyone to truly know what tomorrow holds. Still, I feel strong; I know I am not alone and I know that there is a future that awaits me beyond this illness. I have a husband, two sons, family, work, and countless things I want to do. For now, I just need to take it one step at a time knowing that God is with me every step of the way.

Your Mammogram is a Gift to Another

A note from our CEO, Dorothy Weston Gibbons...
In these economic times, when we all must watch our budgets and expenses, there is one gift that you can give…it doesn’t cost anything…you were going to do it anyway…it’s having your annual mammogram at The Rose. Yes, it’s true…every “paid” mammogram helps us care for a woman who doesn’t have insurance… or money to cover even our low $85 cash discounted fee.

Having a mammogram with us ensures you’ll receive the personal attention that The Rose is famous for and the highest quality imaging, read by physicians who are dedicated only to breast imaging and breast disease. All this and you are helping other women receive that same level of care – women who have no where else to turn.

And if these economic times have left you without insurance or cash, please do not post-pone your annual mammogram. All the research shows that we have our best chance of finding a cancer in its earliest stage when women return between 12 and 14 months. Even a few more months can make a difference, in some cases a tragic difference and that is something you do not need to chance. You have The Rose to turn to.

We have all faced financial difficulties at one point or another. We know that asking for help is difficult especially if you’ve never had to before. But that is why The Rose exists—to provide access to care for every women regardless of ability to pay.
Any woman who has ever discovered a lump in her breast knows the fear that accompanies it. Noone needs any barriers to stand in the way of having the tests needed for a diagnosis—insured or uninsured.

Some women will qualify for full sponsorship, others take advantage or our payment plan. Whatever it takes, we’ll get you through our services...that’s our promise to you.

Bikers Against Breast Cancer

On May 16, motorcycle riders will come together to help raise awareness of breast cancer in our community. Bikers Against Breast Cancer, benefitting The Rose, will start and end at San Jacinto Harley Davidson, 3636 E. Sam Houston Parkway S, Pasadena, TX 77505, with the party continuing at Hooters -Pasadena afterward.

Please click here for more information about the event. On-line registration is available now!

Komen Houston Affiliate Save Lives

Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure impacts the lives of Houston area women in countless ways. This year, they have again proven to be The Rose’s largest grantor, pledging a generous $716,179 to help us fulfill our mission of reducing deaths from breast cancer. Monies from the grant will cover a significant portion of the services provided to uninsured women through the Empower Her® Sponsorship Program including mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies and access to treatment; as well as support the Treatment Fund. This grant will help provide medical services to over 5,000 uninsured women.

“There aren’t enough ways to say thank you to the wonderful folks at Komen Houston Affiliate and also to all the thousands of people who participated in the Race for the Cure®, which makes this incredible gift possible.” said Dorothy Gibbons.

The Greater Houston area has the highest uninsured rate of any area in the nation, nearly one in 3 people are without medical coverage, and few programs available for the working poor who make up over half of the uninsured population. The Rose has become the diagnostic resource for breast health services in area providing direct services to the uninsured and working with nearly 200 agencies throughout the area who serve the uninsured.

The Rose, with the support of Komen Houston Affiliate, provides a full spectrum of breast healthcare for a diverse group of women in Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty and Montgomery counties who are uninsured or unable to pay. Komen Houston Affiliate has been the primary underwriter for our sponsorship program since 1991, helping us to reach and serve thousands of women every year.

Thank You Komen Houston! We could not do it without you!

Friends, employees and supporters of The Rose gather at the Komen Race for the Cure to express our gratitude toward the Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

The Hyphen Lives No More!

In the past, The Rose could be found on-line at www.The-Rose.org. Lots of people expressed that the hyphen made it hard to find us on the web. Thanks to Karen Black, The Rose now has a new home on the World Wide Web. Our website can now be found at www.TheRose.org.

Ms. Black, a cancer survivor herself, gave up the domain she had long dreamed to use for her own umbrella non-profit organization. “TheRose.org suits me well but your clients/patients will immediately benefit from the increased access to your site and services, “ she said.

Ms. Black has extensive family history of breast cancer and decided that the domain name meant more to our patients than to herself. "My mother had breast cancer twice (two separate mastectomies) and my grandmother and aunts died of it. It is hard to find a person who has not been touched personally by this horrible disease,” she said.

We cannot express how deeply we appreciate this gift from Ms. Black. This will surely increase awareness and access to our little place in cyberspace. Please look for major changes coming soon to The Rose.org.

Thank You Avon!

The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund awarded The Rose a $70,000 one-year grant to the Empower Her® Sponsorship Program to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer. This is the sixth year that the program has received Avon Foundation funding to support its work on this important health issue, and in recognition of the excellence of the program.

“We are so pleased that the Avon Foundation shares our mission and has chosen to support our program. With these funds we will be able to serve hundreds of women—for some our services will mean saving their lives,” says Dorothy Weston Gibbons.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the U.S., and the leading single cause of death overall in women between the ages of 20 and 55. While advances have been made in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure, early detection still affords the best opportunity for successful treatment. Nationwide, there is a new diagnosis every three minutes and a death from breast cancer every fourteen minutes. In the Houston area, one woman dies from breast cancer every day. At the 2009 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, over 1,000 participants raised more than $1.8 Million for breast cancer research and support. Pictured above: Members of Team Raquel formed in honor of Rose Garden Support Group member Raquel L.

Student Project Seeks to Save Lives

Last October, Deer Park High School teacher Heidi White talked to her students about breast cancer in an attempt to raise awareness. She did much more than that. After hearing about breast cancer, the Deer Park High School Student Council was inspired to “do something about it,” says White. The students made and sold pink ribbon pins for $.50 each to students, staff and faculty. The grand total reached $310.00, which will be put toward The Rose’s Empower Her® Sponsorship Program. This program provides breast cancer detection services to those who cannot afford the costs of these potentially life saving procedures. The generous acts of these young men and women will not soon be forgotten, especially by the women who will be directly impacted though The Rose’s services. Their generosity translates into three mammograms for women who would not have been able to afford care. Three lives, three families... touched in an extraordinary way by these extraordinary teens.

Randalls Reach Stretches from Rosenberg to The Woodlands

Houston-area Randalls locations raised $225,000 to benefit The Rose’s Mobile Mammography Program. The Mobile Mammography Program serves both insured and uninsured women. The unit travels throughout Harris and surrounding counties and may be booked by corporations, organizations, churches and clinics. The goal of mobile mammography is to eliminate some of the obstacles that women face.

Our generous funders and collaborating partners made it possible for us to take mammography into neighborhoods and office buildings to help eliminate some of the barriers, like transportation and time off work.

Last year, 3,714 women were served by The Rose’s Mobile Mammography Program. Of that number, 2,744 women were uninsured and 6 were diagnosed with breast cancer. The van went to 98 sites for a total of 241 visits in Harris and 5 surrounding counties.

Women 35 and older who are not experiencing any breast symptoms or problems can be screened through the Mobile Mammography Program. Those who are under 35, have been diagnosed with breast cancer within the prior two years, are pregnant or nursing, have implants or are experiencing symptoms cannot be screened on the mobile unit and need to schedule their imaging at one of The Rose’s facilities.

Randalls has been a long-time supporter of The Rose, donating nearly $637,000 since 1997.

(Left to Right): Leslie Nelson, Randalls Vice President of Finance; Dorothy Weston Gibbons, CEO and Co-founder of The Rose; and Tom Schwilke, President of Randalls