The San Mateo Police Department (SMPD) and the San Mateo Police Officers Association (SMPOA) are partnering with RadNet and Breastlink to offer free mammograms through Maddy, a mobile mammogram service provider.
The Pink Patch Party, taking place on the Barnes & Noble lot at the Hillsdale Shopping Center – 11 W. Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo – this Sunday, October 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., will feature a series of health resource booths, music, food, and a police dunk tank, in addition to mammograms.
“We have adopted several different methods of fundraising for our SMPD Breast Cancer Battle Basket Initiative. Funds raised through our initiative will go towards providing newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with a basket of necessary support items to provide comfort at the beginning of their journey through the disease,” SMPD said in a statement.
"These baskets will offer an instant and tangible show of support as we encourage the road to recovery," they said.
Beginning in August, the department began selling T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats through bonfire.com/store/smpd-pinkpatchproject, with the slogan, “Detect it. Treat it. Defeat it.”
All items will be available for sale at the department's booth at the College of San Mateo Farmers Market on Saturdays, October 8, 15, 22, and 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Additionally, through a partnership with the San Francisco Giants, tickets purchased through fevo.me/smpd for this Saturday, October 1, game against the Arizona Diamondbacks will give buyers the opportunity to make a donation to the cause in addition to their ticket purchase.
The Pink Patch party this Sunday, October 2, 2022, offers pre-scheduled appointments for shots from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, with walk-ins available between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm. Appointments can be scheduled by visiting the website at https://radnetimaging.com/mobilemammo/.
“We know that getting a mammogram can be stressful and scary. Our goal with the Pink Patch Party is to provide important information and the opportunity for those without medical care to receive a free breast exam and celebrate those who fought and survived,” said the San Mateo Police Department.
It is worth noting that during “Pink October,” several police officers will be seen wearing pink patches on their uniforms, as will some police patrol cars.
It is important to note that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. While mortality rates for breast cancer are higher than for any other type of cancer, the overall mortality rate for this disease has been decreasing by 1 percent each year.
These declines are believed to be a result of advances in treatment and early detection through screening. Women whose breast cancer is detected at an early stage have a survival rate of 90 percent or higher in the first five years. “If we can help just one person at our event, it will be worth it,” they noted.
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