Advocate raising funds to bring free mobile mammograms to Southwest Virginia

A research professor at Virginia Tech and breast cancer advocate needs your help to send mobile mammogram services to rural Virginia.

Carla Finkielstein is on the board of directors for the Susan G. Koman Foundation Blue Ridge chapter and part of a team that discovered five localities in the state that are considered high-need areas, many are in the New River Valley. Those include Radford, Montgomery County, Giles County, Wythe County, and Floyd County.

Through surveys her team found many women in the area don't have access to screening services.

"We just thought that this is simply unacceptable. Not in the 21st century, not in the United States. So we need to do something, be proactive and bring this technology that is needed in those rural areas to make sure the women get access and get an early diagnoses," said Carla Finkielstein, a Virginia Tech professor and breast cancer awareness advocate.

A crowdfunding effort is happening now to raise enough money to make the services free for people in need and bring a mobile mammogram.

Donations are needed to make this a reality. Finkielstein created a VT Crowdfund website that explains more about this effort.

Find out more about these startling statistics and ways to help by clicking on the related links box above associated with this story.