Kell Junior Cheerleading Supports Breast Care Program

Kell Junior Cheerleading presented Northside Hospital’s Breast Care Program with a check to help raise awareness of breast cancer.  The money was raised from the sale of pink "Kell for the Cure" T-shirts and presented to Northside at the organization’s first-ever Pink Out football game, held Oct. 22 at Kell High School.

"When I was pregnant and diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago, I received all my care at Northside," said Dawn Hood, cheer director, Kell Junior Cheerleading.  "I can't think of a better place to give back than the Northside Breast Care Program."

"More cases of breast cancer are dia gnosed and treated at Northside Hospital than at any other community hospital in the Southeast," said Patti Owen, RN, MN, director of oncology services, Northside Hospital.  "We are inspired by these remarkable young women and are grateful for their efforts and this donation."

The Kell Junior Cheerleaders include 48 6th, 7th and 8th-grade students from Palmer and McCleskey Middle Schools in Marietta.  They cheer for the Kell Junior Longhorns.  At the Pink Out games on Oct. 22, cheerleaders and their coaches decorated the stadium in pink.  Cheerleaders wore pink cow-print bows in their hair and used pink pom-poms; football players had pink shoelaces in their cleats; and fans, coaches, parents, grandparents, concession stand volunteers and cheerleaders all wore their "Kell for the Cure" T-shirts.

During the 7th grade halftime, a check was presented to Northside Hospital, followed by the release of 100 pink balloons from the 50-yard line, celebrating survivors and honoring those who have fought so bravely.

"Our goal from the beginning was to start a tradition that will carry on and grow for many years," said Hood.  "It was also a great opportunity to raise awareness for our young women and help them see what a small group of people can do when they work together for a common goal in their community."

"This money will go directly to furthering education, treatment and research for breast cancer patients at Northside," said Susan Casella, breast health coordinator, Northside Hospital.  "It means s o much to me and to our patients to be remembered this way."

A National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Centers Program, Northside Hospital developed its comprehensive Breast Care Program to give women the education, screening, diagnosis, treatment and support they need in the fight against breast cancer. Today, Northside is a leader in breast care, performing more than 100,000 breast imaging procedures and diagnosing approximately 1,200 breast cancers per year, more than any other community hospital in the Southeast.

The Northside Hospital health care delivery system, a not-for-profit health care provider, has served north Metro Atlanta for more than 40 years. With more than 2,200 physicians and 7,400 employees, the hospital sees nearly 700,000 patient visits a year.  Staff provide a full range of health care services, including women’s health, cancer care, emergency care, surgery, specialty medicine and a wide array of outpatient services at many locations. Northside Hospital offers high-quality health care at Nor thside Hospital-Atlanta in Sandy Springs, Northside Hospital-Cherokee in Canton and Northside Hospital-Forsyth in Cumming.