October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we at HIP continue to support raising awareness about the disease, access to care, and sharing stories.

Earlier this year, High Impact Partners co-sponsored a self-care awareness lunch event, hosted by Touch4life to help educate and inspire those battling and surviving breast cancer in our community. The event, titled Soul-filling Our Sisters (SOS) ™ is a “self-care” virtual forum to educate women about the impact of stress on the mind and body, and the hidden consequences of ignoring the warning signs. In addition, HIP supported Touch4Life’s participation in the Runway for the Cure event in August and helped staff Touch4Life’s information table and onsite mammogram sign-up at the Ubiquitous Womens’ Expo in September 2022. Both events were held in Washington, DC.

*Susan Shorters and Laura Crandon engaging with attendees at the Ubiquitous Womens’ Expo*

The Touch4Life organization, led by Laura Crandon, is special to High Impact Partners because Laura is the sister of HIP’s owner and founder, Susan Shorters. “We believe that women can be empowered to achieve anything, but it begins with education and self-care. Events like the SOS ™ Virtual Self Care Workshop teach the connection between self-care and a lifetime of wellness,” said Susan Shorters. “As a women-owned small business, HIP shares Touch4LLife’s mission and desire to invest in and be a positive impact in the lives of women, and we applaud Touch4Life’s vision and leadership in addressing one of the biggest challenges to women’s health today – stress.” “Also as a sister and a woman, I’m proud of how Laura turned pain into purpose, power, and empowerment.”

The White House agrees with those sentiments. Last month, the Biden Administration posted this briefing on the White House website, A Proclamation from the White House. The proclamation dedicates October as National Breast Cancer Month and proclaims the commitment to support efforts to overcome the disease.

If you have any questions about screening or other cancer-related questions in English and Spanish call 1-800-422-6237 to reach the National Cancer Institute. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides breast cancer screenings and diagnostic services to those with low incomes who are uninsured or otherwise qualify for the program. Learn more about this program here.