New Pink Mammography Motor Coach to Hit the Road Soon

It's not likely you'll miss this RV as it rolls through the Upstate.

And it will definitely make you THINK PINK!

Bon Secours St. Francis Health System unveiled its latest tool to help combat breast cancer.

Bedecked with cherry blossoms and a bright pink paint job, the new Mobile Mammography Coach will travel through Greenville, Pickens, Anderson and Oconee counties to provide digital mammograms for women.

One in eight women in the community will be diagnosed with breast cancer, according to St. Francis. A fact already evident to those in attendance, as pink shirts of survivors dotted the crowd.

Funded solely by philanthropic donations, 40 percent of which was raised by St. Francis employees, the mobile unit is an extension of the services St. Francis offers at the Pearlie Harris Center for Breast Health, according to Rebecca Hill, director of women's imaging.

"This means everything to me," Hill said. "Those women we are seeing at late stages and terminal diagnosis, we will now be able to actually go out into the community and find them."

Hill said that financial services will not be an issue as more than 40 percent of the care in this coach will be provided without charge.

"It's actually putting feet to the mission we live at St. Francis and that is "to be good help to those in need.'"

Hill said the coach will travel to businesses, YMCAs, free clinics, church ministries, but can be requested to come to other locations through an online form.

Pearlie Harris beamed with pride Friday morning as she celebrated another St. Francis milestone with members of the breast health team, breast cancer survivors and friends. Less than a year ago St. Francis opened the center that bears Harris' name and now she said the community has received another way to reach women who maybe couldn't afford regular screenings or treatment.

"This is a blessing and it's part of the St. Francis mission," Harris said, as she stood outside the bus that also bears her name. "It's gorgeous and it's real pink, so you can't miss it!"

The unit is expected to be fully staffed and on the road by the end of the year.