BelkGives on the Go Mobile Mammography Center Celebrates One Year of Saving Lives

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The BelkGives on the Go Mobile Mammography Center is celebrating its one-year anniversary of saving lives by providing convenient and affordable access to mammograms. In its first year, the mobile unit performed more than 4,500 mammograms during its visits to Belk stores throughout the Southeast that resulted in 14 cancer diagnoses.

Belk, the nation's largest family owned and operated department store, invested $6 million in the mobile mammography center as part of its deep commitment to women's health issues and breast cancer education. 

"Getting tested early is the key to saving lives, so we wanted to use our resources to increase awareness and to provide a convenient service for our customers and associates who might not otherwise get a mammogram," said Jessica Graham, Belk's vice president of communications and community relations. "Belk is proud of what our Mobile Mammography Center has achieved in its first year, and we are looking forward to saving even more lives in the communities we serve next year."

Since launching on January 28, 2013, the Belk Mobile Mammography Center has driven more than 26,000 miles and provided breast cancer screening services to women in 106 stores across North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.  Belk partnered with Charlotte Radiology to manage and deliver the high-quality screening mammograms.

After putting off having a mammogram, Jamie Reynolds, a Belk employee for 23 years in Cary, N.C., was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in April 2013 when the bus visited her store. She had a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, and today is cancer free.    

"It scares me to think that had this bus not parked itself in my store's parking lot, when would the cancer have been caught and how far along would it have been?" said Reynolds. "I really want to get the word out to everyone that has put off getting a mammogram to take advantage of this great program Belk has put in place to save lives."

In 2014, the BelkGives on the Go Mobile Mammography Center will expand its reach to even more women by visiting stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, South Carolina and Virginia.

Women ages 40 and over with no breast concerns, who have not had a mammogram in the last 12 months and have a primary care physician, are eligible by calling 855-655-BMMC (2662) to schedule an appointment.  For a list of tour dates, go to www.belk.com/pink.

About Belk, Inc.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk, Inc. (www.belk.com) is the nation's largest family owned and operated department store company with 301 Belk stores located in 16 Southern states with a growing digital presence. Founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk in Monroe, N.C., the company is in the third generation of Belk family leadership and has been committed to community involvement since its inception. Each year, Belk gives a portion of its pretax income back to the communities it serves. In fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2013, the company and its associates, customers and vendors, donated more than $19 million to those communities. Belk.com offers a wide assortment of national brands and private label fashion apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family along with top name cosmetics, a wedding registry and a large selection of quality merchandise for the home. To connect with Belk go to Belk Get Connected.

About Charlotte Radiology

Established in Charlotte, N.C. in 1967, Charlotte Radiology is one of the largest and most progressive radiology groups in the country with approximately 90 radiologists specialized in areas ranging from breast imaging to pediatric radiology. In addition to offering 24/7 coverage for more than 11 hospitals,  the practice operates 13 breast centers, two vascular and interventional clinics and jointly owns and reads for Carolinas Imaging Services. In February 2011, Charlotte Radiology launched its mobile breast services across five counties in the greater Charlotte region. Today, two mobile units travel some 2,000 miles each month to bring early breast cancer screenings and detection closer to where women live and work.  The Belk Mobile Mammography  Center will serve close to 6,000 women throughout N.C., S.C. and Tenn. Accredited by the American College of Radiology, certified by the FDA and recognized as a Breast Center of Excellence, Charlotte Radiology is a national advocate for breast health awareness, collaborating with community partners and foundations to educate women about the importance of early breast cancer detection.  Serving more than 100,000 women per year, Charlotte Radiology provides compassionate care, state-of-the-art care including digital mammography, breast MRI and computer-aided detection. Learn more online at www.charlotteradiology.com. To connect with Charlotte Radiology via Facebook, go to: www.facebook.com/CharlotteRadiology.

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For information about 2014 dates.

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SOURCE Belk, Inc.