Dig for a Cure Donates $2781 to Patients in need at CVHC
“The best part about putting on the Dig for a Cure fundraiser was knowing that I was able to help people struggling in a time of need and knowing that the mammograms could potentially find cancer early to help save someone’s life,” says Samantha Leidheiser, OJSHS Senior and organizer of this year’s Dig for a Cure event. “I liked the feeling that by putting on this event I was helping so many people that are in a place where they could really use a helping hand.”
Dig for a Cure has donated to Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics Ladies’ Night Out event for many years. The Ladies’ Night Out event helps women who are uninsured or under-insured get mammograms at a lower rate and sometimes even for free. “The money that we have received from Dig for a Cure over the years has allowed us to continue this event and has helped many women receive mammograms that wouldn’t otherwise be able to,” says Lenne Bonner, CEO, CVHC. “We are so grateful to Samantha for taking on this on as her Senior Project this year and hope to see it continue for years to come.”
Ladies’ Night Out will be held on January 16th at 5:30 p.m. at the Orofino Health Center. If you or someone you know could benefit from a free or lower cost mammogram please contact Becky Colwell, Benefits Counselor, CVHC/SMH, at 208-476-8018 or just come to the event. “This year’s event will feature information on all aspects of women’s health,” says Ashley Steinbruecker, Community Relations Manager, CVHC. “We will have presenters including Dr. Ann Lima, Dr. Rebecca Katzman, Dr. Karin Schmidova as well as our Physical Therapist, Megan Bruce, Registered Dietitian, Clinton Cullins, and Yoga Instructor, Sarah McGrath. Refreshments and door prizes are included, too!”
Leidheiser said that her goal for Dig for a Cure this year was to make it “really fun and memorable for those who attended while raising as much as possible for those that would benefit from such a fundraiser. In total $5,562.54 was raised with half being donated to Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics Ladies’ Night Out and the other half to Icare.”
“The main obstacle I face while working on Dig for a Cure was definitely a personal obstacle. I was doing something way out of my comfort zone, organizing such a huge and important event that our entire community shows for,” says Leidheiser. “It really made me face my anxiety head on. My mom, Shannon Erbst, and I talked through everything multiple times just for reassurance that I was actually on track. With my mom and Shannon supporting me so much throughout everything it really helped ease my mind and allow me to actually stand up in that gym and talk in front of the biggest crowd I have ever spoken in front of before.”
“My senior project could not have been such a success without the help of everyone that was involved,” says Leidheiser. “It was not just me who put effort in, it was the effort of all my volunteers, the volleyball team, my family, and my sponsors who really helped make this event so great.”