January 19, 2010

Events focus on Cervical Cancer Awareness

By Rachel Vesco
Special to the Press-Gazette

An estimated 4,070 women in the United States will die of cervical cancer this year.

To help raise awareness about this deadly disease, organizations and foundations in the Green Bay area will hold events and offer services during January, Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, to help local women protect themselves.

The SAS Foundation, established in 2007 in honor of Sybil Ann Seehawer, a Green Bay woman who died of cervical cancer in 2008, helps to fund the daily living expenses of Wisconsin women undergoing treatment for cervical cancer. This year, SAS began the Pearl of Wisdom Campaign on Jan. 6, asking women to pledge to get a cervical cancer screening this month. The foundation is taking part in various fundraisers and TV interviews throughout the month as well.

On Wednesday, SAS will hold its first Wine and Hooha Event to raise awareness and engage women in a discussion about their health.

"We're trying to make it casual event where women can learn about the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer, different things they can do to help lower their risk for cervical cancer," said SAS co-founder Kellie Delveaux.

The event coincides with the group's Wear Teal Day, where women are encouraged to wear teal in honor of women battling cervical cancer.

Although January highlights the importance of the fight against cervical cancer, there are local services available year-round.

The MSZ Foundation, founded by cervical cancer survivor Marti Spittell Ziegelbauer and her husband, Gary, provides funds that allow low-income women to receive free cervical cancer tests and screenings through the Bellin Health System, the Aurora Hospital System, Door County Memorial Hospital and the Fox Cities Community Clinic.

"We simply didn't want any woman who was unable to pay for these medical services to have to get in the car and drive a long distance to get a free pap smear," Spittell Ziegelbauer said. "We wanted to take the services to her "

Spittell Ziegelbauer and her husband also have a privately held endowment fund at St. Mary's Hospital to provide free pap smears as well as any follow-up services needed.

Additional Facts

On the Net-

· MSZ Foundation: www.freepapsmear.org

· SAS Foundation: www.sasfoundation.org