Rays of Hope Walk & Run Toward the Cure of Breast Cancer

We’re excited to announce the creation of a new comprehensive community health center located in the heart of the city of Springfield, made possible by the generous support of our longstanding partner, MassMutual. Through MassMutual donation, which includes approximately 10 acres of land in the southeast corner of its Springfield campus and a $5 million donation from the MassMutual Foundation, Baystate Health will create a state-of-the-art health center that will centralize services, creating a medical neighborhood caring for children, families, and adults that includes primary care and behavioral health services. The new center, which will merge the existing Mason Square Neighborhood Health Center, Baystate High Street Health Center, Baystate High Street Pediatrics, and Wesson Women’s Clinic, will have greater access by public transportation, ample free parking, and provide a one-stop shop for the care, creating an easier experience for our patients. We are grateful to our partners, MassMutual, and look forward to enhancing care for patients in our region.

Breast cancer cases for women over 50 have been on the rise and now the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force has new guidelines for breast cancer screening. Learn more from Dr. Jennifer Hadro, Chief of breast imaging at Baystate Medical Center. https://lnkd.in/dCS3ueYB

A big pink shout out to the incredible Rays of Hope Volunteers! Your compassion, dedication and unwavering commitment make a profound difference in the lives of breast cancer survivors and their loved ones. Thank you for being the driving force behind our mission. We are wrapping you in a big pink hug today!?

On National Doctors Day, we honor and applaud the dedicated efforts of all the doctors at Baystate Health and across western Massachusetts who tirelessly work to safeguard the health & welfare of our community. Dr. Prarthna Bhardwaj, Attending Physician, Hematology/Oncology at Baystate Health, shares her perspective on what being a doctor signifies to her: "Being a doctor, specifically a medical oncologist, has allowed me to approach serious medical conditions with a humanistic lens. It has provided me with a sweeping view of the magnificent resilience of the human spirit. I often enter the lives of patients when rocked by a cancer diagnosis. It is a privilege to provide cutting-edge care in a compassionate manner for these individuals. As a member of the D'Amour Center for Cancer Care with a special interest in hereditary and familial cancer syndromes, I provide comprehensive care through the continuum from a diagnosis of breast cancer and treatment to survivorship."

A Rays of Hope sponsorship is a meaningful way for your business to reach thousands of breast cancer patients, survivors, and families in western MA. For information on how your business can support hope like Pioneer Valley Credit Union did in 2023, please e-mail us at [email protected]

One of the most important choices women confront with a breast cancer diagnosis is deciding whether they'll have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. Dr. Jesse Casaubon,?a breast surgeon at Baystate Surgical Oncology & Breast Specialists, gives us a look into each procedure and deciding factors: https://bit.ly/BHLVSM

A big pink thank you to the businesses that played a role in lighting up Springfield pink this past Saturday in honor of the Springfield Thunderbirds Pink in the Rink game! Check out the photos below of a few of the businesses beaming a hopeful pink light! Thank you - City of Springfield, Massachusetts Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Campanile Clock Tower Union Station, Springfield MA OneFinancial SpringfieldMa MGM Springfield Berkshire Bank MassMutual Center Square One (Springfield Day Nursery)

In the glow of pink, the Springfield Thunderbirds Pink in the Rink game brought so much joy and hope to our survivors! Thank you to the our Rays of Hope captains, John and Sandy Maybury of Maybury Material Handling, the Thunderbirds team and staff, supporters, and fans who celebrated our survivors and wrapped them in a big pink hug during this special event. Join us to keep the support coming at this year’s Rays of Hope on October 27! Register today: https://bit.ly/ROH2024

Are you heading to Pink in the Rink today or looking for a great place in Springfield to enjoy a meal with friends? Stop by one of these fabulous places in Springfield, MA that are serving up some PINK HOPE on Saturday, March 9! Enjoy a special pink drink or just celebrate with the staff all dressed in pink to support Rays of Hope. Special thanks to All American Sports Bar & Grill, Breakaway Lounge, Dewey’s Jazz Lounge, Jackalope, Nosh, and Osteria for giving hope to breast cancer survivors, because no one fights alone.

Today we celebrate the strength, resilience, and countless achievements of women around the world. Happy International Women's Day!