Antrim County High Tea for Breast Cancer Prevention

2010 Overview

The Antrim County High Tea for Breast Cancer Prevention (ACHT) is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization established four years ago with a mission to:

“… provide awareness and education, eligibility screening and initial medical testing for breast cancer.  The primary focus will be to assist all individuals living within Antrim County, Michigan who are not otherwise covered by public or private medical programs and whose personal financial capability would discourage preventative testing.”

ACHT began simply driven by two local women who wanted to make a difference in their community.  Today we are supported by over 600 individuals and more than 250 local businesses.  This is an all volunteer effort in which all the funds collected are used to directly support Antrim County residents.

One of our primary objectives is to educate women and men about breast cancer and make them aware of the resources already available to them.  We partnered with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HD) and Munson Medical Center (MMC) for screening, testing and follow-up.  We work with the HD to increase the number of women tested through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) and the Healthy Michigan Fund.  These programs cover qualified women between the ages of 40-64.  Enrolling women in this program is a priority because it not only provides a mammogram (and other testing) but, more importantly, will cover all follow up treatment costs if something is discovered.  We work through MMC to test any individual not covered in one of these two programs.

Part of our strategy for direct medical testing is to fully utilize all the available funding and programs first and then use the monies from our donors to cover the gaps and shortfalls.  Lacking the medical infrastructure of the other counties, we have to get more creative in getting the message delivered throughout the county.  Antrim is a county with high unemployment and low incomes which contributes to an environmental bias against preventive practices.

From its beginning in 2004 ACHT has raised over $230,000 with over $60,000 budget for programs in 2010.  Roughly 20% of our proceeds go towards direct medical testing and patient support, 75% for awareness and education and less than 5% for administrative expenses.

Your funds are being utilized to:

• Conduct classroom education sessions with over 250 ninth graders annually
• Purchase billboards advertising free mammograms
• Provide gas cards to cover transportation costs for screening and testing
• Pay for screening & testing when state funds have run out
• Provide school and public libraries with educational literature and books on breast cancer
• Pay for mammograms and ultrasounds for residents who aren’t qualified under state programs
• Blanket the county with posters, direct mailings, advertisements, brochures, etc
• Fund genetic testing for residents in conjunction with the Munson Oncology Clinic

Unfortunately, Antrim County has the highest breast cancer mortality rate in the state.  Based on this data we can expect 21 incidents and 5 deaths each year.  So, while great progress has been made in reducing the mortality rates, we still have a significant challenge in front of us.

One measure of our success has been the increase in Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) enrollment.  Antrim County enrolled 22 women in the program in 2004 (our first year).  That number grew to 190 in 2009 and we are on target to reach 250 in 2010.  This is the result of a unique partnership between a public and private organization leveraging each other’s strengths and resources.   While the increase in testing is significant, we are still only reaching a portion of the estimated 350-400 eligible women in Antrim County.  Our goal for 2011 is to test 300 women!  We still have a huge challenge in front of us and we need your help to increase the awareness in our community.

If you need assistance or know of someone who does, contact the Health Department at 1-800-432-4121.

If you have questions about Antrim County High Tea for Breast Cancer Prevention or wish to support our efforts as a volunteer or to make a financial contribution, please contact us at:   

231-377-6101 or www.antrimcountyhightea.org