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Biker event results in philanthropic donation to Carle Cancer Institute Urbana

Biker event results in philanthropic donation to Carle Cancer Institute Urbana
December is a bit chilly for Nancy and Greg Borum to be riding their motorcycles from the Peoria area to Carle Cancer Institute in Urbana so they came by car and left behind a sizable donation that will warm the hearts of many patients with breast cancer as they navigate their medical journey.

The Borums founded the Bikers for Ta-Tas motorcycle ride in 2008 with just 15 bikers, but it grew over the years to where the non-profit sees more than 1,800 bikers gather in Bartonville, Illinois on the third Saturday of July for the annual BFTT charity event that raises money for breast cancer screenings, awareness and education in central Illinois. After the ride, there is a live auction, drawings, a meal and entertainment with live music. In the past 16 years, they have given away more than $400,000. They chose Carle Cancer Institute in Urbana to receive $30,000 from the non-profit this year.

“This is absolutely fantastic,” Sinisa Stanic, MD, medical director, Carle Cancer Institute, said. The Borums; Nancy’s sister, Betsy Jameson-Fannin, a 13-year breast cancer survivor; and Bikers for Ta-Tas committee member Caroline Booth, who is also a Provider Services specialist at Carle Health Methodist Hospital, presented the check to Dr. Stanic and members of Carle Health Center for Philanthropy.

The donation will go specifically to Mills Breast Cancer Institute in Urbana for screenings, patient comfort, educational programs and equipment, Sharla Jolly, director, Leadership Giving at Carle Health Center for Philanthropy, said.

Dr. Stanic spoke with the visitors about the unique services the institute in Urbana offers for people diagnosed with breast cancer. This includes a focus on a multidisciplinary approach for newly-diagnosed patients to meet with a breast surgeon, a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist all at one time to hear each of their perspectives and recommendations for next steps. “The care is best delivered by a team,” Dr. Stanic said.

He said philanthropic support provides so many essentials in the field of cancer. For example, philanthropic support allowed Carle Cancer Institute Urbana to hire two mammography navigators who work all day contacting and scheduling patients who have not had a screening for two years.

Nancy Borum said they chose the Urbana location in honor of her mother, V. Ann BeBout Jameson, who not only named the annual motorcycle ride, but also started her nursing career at Carle Foundation Hospital as a volunteer candy striper when she was just 14 years old. She received her registered nurse degree from Methodist School of Nursing in Peoria, which is now part of the Carle Health system and known as Methodist College. Jameson returned to work at Carle Foundation Hospital and eventually settled in Pekin where she retired from Pekin Hospital, now Carle Health Pekin Hospital.

Nancy Borum said they also donated $5,000 each this year to Hult Center for Healthy Living, which is part of Carle Health; Illinois CancerCare Foundation and Carle Health Center for Philanthropy – Greater Peoria.

Categories: Community

Tags: Breast cancer, cancer, Carle Cancer Institute, Champaign-Urbana, Giving, Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Peoria, Philanthropy