17 Oct WACCC Fights Cancer Head On
There’s just something about the cool air that the month of October brings. The excitement of little voices saying, “Trick or Treat”, the baseball playoffs, menu planning for Thanksgiving and even Christmas shopping for those too eager to wait. However, for many it is also a reminder of loved ones who have fought, or continue to fight, a disease that far too many faces, because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
In the early 2000’s The Pink Line Walk was established with the intention of addressing breast cancer, which, at the time, was an underrepresented issue. Beginning with a National Main Street initiative, the Pink Line Walk brought awareness to breast cancer by giving people a place to show support to survivors and pool together resources. It didn’t take long for the community to get behind it.
The walk eventually outgrew the scope of Main Street and transitioned to an organization under a new name, The Pink Pajama Party.
The Pink Pajama Party started to award grants to help cover expenses of women suffering from cancer. Wanting to focus even more on this initiative, the Pink Pajama Party started a fund at the McPherson County Community Foundation (MCCF) in 2006 and decided to include children suffering from cancer to also be eligible to receive grants. With this addition the group changed their name one last time to better reflect their mission: Women and Children Combating Cancer or WACCC for short.
As part of their grant process, WACCC accepts applications from individuals and then awards an amount of $750 ($500 prior to 2023). This money can be used to reimburse expenses related to the applicant’s fight against cancer, and can include anything from gas for travel, utilities, rent/mortgage payments or even wigs to replace hair loss due to chemotherapy. These grants can be applied for through MCCF with more information found on the application tab on their website (McPhersonFoundation.org).
Since WACCC started granting through MCCF, they have released 160 grants totaling over $80,000 in support.
WACCC also uses another initiative Mammo Ammo Combat Bags to show support for the families surrounding the individual with cancer. The committee learns more about the individual and tailors a bag to fit what would bring joy to them, sometimes even granting a special request.
‘We had one little boy who was interested in airplanes and so we got him a ride in one over town.” Jen Bonham, WACCC Committee member, said, “Another we got into a hot air balloon.”
Since 2009 WACCC has given out 162 Combat bags.
Every October in McPherson, WACCC has brought in a mobile mammogram facility with the hope of providing early detection. Insurance is accepted, but for those that are uninsured WACCC has picked up the tab.
“By identifying roadblocks and eliminating them, it can lead to early detection.” Bonham said, “We have seen that happen during our events”
WACCC has received grants from MCCF for these mobile labs in 2019, 2021 and 2022, totaling $12,500 in support. In 2023 WACCC partnered with the McPherson Center for Health to move the initiative to a permanent fixture. Since 2016 WACCC has provided 783 free Mammograms.
WACCC completed its annual Cancer Crawl in the beginning of October. This event serves as WACCC’s biggest awareness event of the year. Through community support and their business partners WACCC is an organization that continues to find ways to grow their impact. From city-wide garage sales to the pink game at McPherson High School Basketball games, WACCC thrives because of community support.
“I do think it’s important to state that (WACCC) is a grassroots organization.” Bonham said, “Money is raised here for here.”
When asked what the goal was for WACCC going forward, Bonham mentioned that they just want to do more. Bonham also mentioned that there would be an exciting announcement from the organization coming soon and that people should keep an eye out for that announcement.
“Cancer doesn’t discriminate.” Bonham said, “(WACCC) is here to help in any way we can.”