West Virginia’s mountains might be beautiful, but the state’s rural terrain can make it difficult for people to access health care. There often aren’t enough — or any — providers in rural communities, and that means residents have to travel long distances for routine checkups.
In many cases, elderly patients, the uninsured and those without reliable transportation have no choice but to skip critical appointments. Recognizing the urgent need to provide cancer screenings to the public, West Virginia University (WVU) Cancer Institute of WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals launched Bonnie’s Bus in 2009.
Bonnie’s Bus is a fully functioning mobile mammography unit that provides breast cancer screening throughout West Virginia, especially in rural areas or parts of the state with limited or no access to screening mammography.
WVU Cancer Institute created Bonnie's Bus in honor of Bonnie Wells Wilson, who succumbed to breast cancer in rural West Virginia because of limited access to screening. The demand for mammography screenings has grown significantly in the 15 years since the bus has been traveling West Virginia roads, prompting the need to purchase a second bus.
That’s where Appalachian Power (APCo) stepped in to help.
“We believe in making a difference in our community,” said Sammy Gray, director of government affairs for APCo in West Virginia. “We're thrilled to play a small role in supporting WVU’s efforts to bring an additional bus to the state and provide vital screenings and resources directly to those who need them most.”
“Appalachian Power is such a great community partner,” said Kristin Margolin Anderson, vice president of marketing and philanthropy at WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals. “They recognize the benefit of this program and what we're able to do to change lives in West Virginia. We’re just so grateful for their donation because we want to break down any barrier we can for patients so they can get this routine screening. We don't want geography to be a challenge. We don't want money to be a challenge.”
WVU Medicine initially reached out to APCo to ask whether they’d sponsor the Thomas Foundation’s Pink Soiree event, aimed at raising funds to support the Bonnie Bus. APCo responded to WVU Medicine’s request by inviting them to apply for a larger grant that would support the Bonnie Bus Program, rather than just a single event.
“Following that event, APCo reached out and communicated that breast cancer was something near and dear to a lot of people’s hearts,” Anderson said. “They really saw this as a cause they would be willing to support outside the event.”
After Wilson passed away nearly 20 years ago, her daughter and son-in-law made a sizable donation to help WVU Medicine create Bonnie’s Bus. Since that moment, the program has provided more than 34,000 screening mammograms, of which nearly 2,500 were free. The bus has also helped detect more than 200 cases of breast cancer.
“Early detection is critical,” Anderson said. “We're just so excited for the stories we're going to be able to hear and the lives we're going to be able to change by bringing this service to patients in southern West Virginia, in some of the state’s most geographically challenged areas.”
To learn more about Bonnie’s Bus or to view a calendar of events, visit Bonnie's Bus | WVU Cancer Institute.