A Medals4Mettle presentation took place during the annual Ladies Night Out event on Oct. 25
The Times
St. Mary Medical Center hosted a Medals4Mettle presentation for a breast cancer survivor and raised more than $10,000 for breast health initiatives during the annual Ladies Night Out event on Thursday, Oct. 25, in the Cancer Center.
Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic President and CEO Jim Woodward presented the medal to Ellane Ehrlich, who recently overcame breast cancer. The Medals4Mettle program donates medals from those that have finished marathons, triathlons and other races to children and adults for the mettle and courage they demonstrate battling cancer, chronic illness, trauma and other life challenges.
“We were so excited to be able to host this presentation for Ellane, who has proven to be so courageous throughout her fight with breast cancer,” said Lynn Carpenter, manager of the Bee Well Boutique at St. Mary, who spearheaded the event. “We’re thankful the Medals4Mettle program helped us give back to one of our patients for her amazing strength.”
The Ladies Night Out event, sponsored by Carlucci’s Restaurants, included an introduction of breast surgeon Russell Reisner, MD, who will be starting at St. Mary Complete Breast Care in December of 2018. There was a presentation on the latest in treatment options and available supportive care by Dr. Hiral Fontanilla, Medical Director of the St. Mary Breast Program. A variety of vendors offered jewelry, accessories, gifts and more in the Cancer Center hallway.
Additionally, a buffet dinner was donated by Carlucci’s for attendees. A silent auction took place, which included items such as local professional sports teams’ tickets and memorabilia, artwork and many themed baskets full of fun.
Since the first medal was donated by Medals4Mettle founder Dr. Steven Isenberg in 2005, more than 55,000 medals have been donated by approximately 70 chapters in more than 80 hospitals worldwide. His vision was to have these medals donated to pay-it-forward to those who must run a much more difficult race than the medal donors’ races — a race they did not choose to run, a race where the finish line might not be known.
For more information about the Medals4Mettle program, please visit www.medals4mettle.org. For more information on oncology services at St. Mary, call 215-710-5300.
