The Taunia Oechslin Girls Night Out Committee presented Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber’s Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center with $53,000 it raised during its fourth annual event held April 27 at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center in Johnstown.
This year’s event was the most successful to date, with 750 women in attendance selling out the conference center. And from a financial standpoint, the $53,000 raised this year was roughly double the amount raised in any previous year. During its first three years combined, Girls Night Out raised just over $80,000.
“We are grateful to the Taunia Oechslin Girls Night Out Committee for their tremendous efforts in raising funds for the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center at Windber Medical Center,” said Patty Felton, director of the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center. “These donations support patient care services and allow the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center to continue its crusade against breast disorders through prevention, diagnosis, treatment and research.”
Girls Night Out began as a small “pay it forward” project by Taunia Oechslin, a breast cancer fighter who was diagnosed at 36 years old and succumbed to the disease on April 9, 2009, at the age of 39. It was her goal that every woman is educated about breast cancer, understands the value of early detection and receives proper treatment. The gala raises money for Windber Medical Center’s Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center to ensure cutting edge care for every woman in the community.