Published on August 19, 2011

Car Chix To Raise Money for Illini’s Center for Breast Health

They support the evolution of women in male-dominated world of motor sports. They wear pink and travel the country, raising awareness for breast cancer.

They’re called the Car Chix, and on Aug. 26-27, they will be at the 58th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova Dragway Park to raise money for the Genesis Center for Breast Health on the Illini Campus in Silvis.

Car Chix, Inc., the premier motorsports organization for women, hosts fundraisers for breast cancer called Racing for a Cure a Quarter Mile at a Time.™ In the past year, the group has presented a number of successful events -- featured on www.carchix.com -- to raise money for breast cancer awareness and research.

Next week, the Car Chix will work to benefit Illini’s expanding Center for Breast Health. The dragway opens to spectators at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, and 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27.

“Rather than just race for a cause, the Car Chix also work for a cause. Several of their members have been touched by cancer, and they are willing to travel to help fight the disease and raise awareness,” says Johanne Hines of the Illini Campus Laboratory, who is helping to coordinate the Car Chix’ visit to the Cordova Dragway.

“They are working the area, and will have a tent set up at the event for raffle items and donations. We also hope to have Illini representatives there to talk about mammography.”

Expanding breast health services

This year, Illini’s Center for Breast Health has added the newest generation of stereotactic breast biopsy technology. It offers digital mammography and the surgical expertise of surgeon S ara Glassgow, D.O. of Genesis Health Group.

Illini also has expanded infusion services and now offers chemotherapy and other bi-state support services of the Genesis Cancer Care Institute, including nutritional counseling, social services, physical rehabilitation and cancer nurse navigators.

Genesis now has digital mammography at five Center for Breast Health locations: at the Kenneth H. McKay, M.D. Center for Breast Health in Davenport; the Genesis Imaging Center in Bettendorf; at Genesis hospital locations in DeWitt and the Illini campus; and beginning this month, at Jackson County Regional Health Center in Maquoketa.

To schedule a mammogram in Bettendorf, Davenport, Silvis, DeWitt, or Maquoketa, call (563) 421-3200.