Mobile Breast Cancer Screening Unit Will Benefit Newark Women

NEWARK, NJ — Thousands of Newark residents don’t get screened for breast cancer because of inadequate insurance, lack of transportation or child care challenges. And that’s why the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation and the University Hospital Foundation are teaming up to raise money for a “state-of-the-art mobile cancer screening unit.”

The organizations announced their joint fundraising effort in a news release. They will be working together over the next two years to raise $1.2 million to purchase a vehicle with high-tech breast imaging equipment and a private exam room.

The new van will replace an aging mobile unit that has been serving women in the community for over 25 years, organizers of the campaign said.

Learn how to make a donation here.

“Unfortunately, 30 percent of University Hospital breast cancer cases are diagnosed in advanced stages, when it’s more difficult to treat,” University Hospital Foundation Executive Director Jess Backofen said.

“Thousands of Newark residents do not get screened because of inadequate insurance, lack of transportation, child care challenges and our role is to bring cancer screening to their doorstep,” Backofen said.

Sarah Roberts, executive director of the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation, said the group is fully committed to ensuring that women throughout Essex County have access to life-saving cancer screenings.

“Currently, we serve approximately 1,000 women annually,” Roberts said. “It is our hope the new mobile unit will allow University Hospital to increase its capacity to screen 4,000 women per year.”

They’re not alone. Joining the effort as a lead influencer is Bershan Shaw, a two-time breast cancer survivor. According to organizers:

“Given a three-month prognosis, Bershan summoned her inner warrior to survive cancer and defied the odds in doing so. To help others reach their full potential, Bershan founded Warrior Training. She is an industry pioneer in transformational coaching, executive leadership training, and diversity and inclusion implementation. Her unique background, dynamic presenting style, humor, real-world techniques, and practical strategies leave every audience, from Amazon to the Essence Music Festival to UBS and Johns Hopkins University, feeling energized, transformed, and ready to take on new challenges. Bershan is launching an app in October called URA Warrior focused on removing the stigma on mental health and creating a community of supporters. She developed the evidenced-based URAWarrior Method with the help of doctors, therapists, cancer patients, research, coaching clients & addiction recovery coaches. University Hospital’s health care workers will be the first audience to experience the app in person.”

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