The Personal Story Behind The Grand Traverse Pie Company's Fundraiser for Munson Medical Center
It's the fourth of the month and that means it's time to call your buddy as a reminder to do a self breast exam, and it's also time for this buddy check report.
Few things are more comforting than a perfect slice of pie, unless that pie is also helping raise money for breast cancer patients.
Last year the Grand Traverse Pie Company launched its Pie for a Cure Campaign. This year, the campaign has gotten a little more personal and lot more local.
Debbie Bean has it pretty sweet. She's worked for the Grand Traverse Pie Company for five years.
But things started to turn sour when her husband lost his job, and they lost their health insurance with it.
And then things took another turn...
Debbie Bean says, "back in early February I found a lump in my breast."
She called Munson Medical Center's Smith Family Breast Health Center to get it checked out. When she told them she couldn't pay, they told her not to worry about it. The Mammography Assistance Program would pick up the tab.
Munson Medical Center Breast Health Services Coordinator Jane Rolf says "we offer free mammograms to uninsured or underinsured women."
Debbie says, "the last thing I needed to worry about was how I was going to cover the test, so that was a huge relief at that point in time."
That was just about the time they really got cooking on the second annual pie for a cure campaign. .50 cents of each pie sold at the company's 17 stores from the 1st day of spring through Mother's Day goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Debbie says, "we found out all of the funds raised at the TC store were going to be used nationally since we don't have an affiliate here and we really wanted our money to stay here locally."
So Debbie came up with a plan that her bosses could really sink their teeth into.
$2 from every pie shipped will go to the Munson Foundation.
Grand Traverse Pie Company Co-owner Denise Busley says, "to keep some of those funds local is a lovely thing."
Breast Health Services Coordinator Jane Rolf says, "it's so exhilerating to know women in the community are taking a stand and helping other women in our area. it's phenominal."
Debbie Bean says, "it makes me feel great, and another thing. It gave me hope. People who need testing or need help need to know they can get the help they need and it's not hopeless."
Denise Busley says "when you know better you should do better, so go get your mammograms."
Last year the Grand Traverse Pie Company raised $25,000 for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation. There's still time to help out with this year's campaign that runs through Mother's Day. which is May 10th, but you knew that. Here is a link to the Grand Traverse Pie Company. And a link to Munson's Smith Family Breast Health Center for more information about the Mammography Assistance Program, or any of their services.
