Photo by Shelley Hanson The Janie Altmeyer Think Pink Fund makes a $90,000 donation to WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital Breast Care Center on Friday. From left are Debbie Stanton, program director for the Community Foundation For The Ohio Valley; Dr. Rosemarie Hardin, co-chairwoman of Think Pink and a breast surgeon at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital; Julie Joseph, co-chairwoman of Think Pink committee; Kyla Morris, program coordinator for the breast care center; and Jessica Moore, associate vice president of foundation and community relations for WVU Medicine.

WHEELING — The Janie Altmeyer Think Pink Fund donated $90,000 to WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital’s Breast Care Center on Friday.

Each year, the Think Pink event raises money for the fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley. The money given to the breast care center is used to help cover the cost of related testing, wigs, gas cards, medications and other support for patients in need.

Kyla Morris, program coordinator for the breast care center, was on hand to accept the check. She said she wanted to be surprised by the amount raised. Upon opening the envelope and seeing the total, Morris became emotional, thanking Julie Joseph, co-chairwoman of the Think Pink committee, and giving her a hug.

“This year we’re doing something special,” Morris said. “We are purchasing special pads for the mammogram machine for patient comfort. So a lot of patients will say it’s not comfortable to get a mammogram … These pads are going to improve patient satisfaction and maybe make them not as leery to come in and get screened.”

Dr. Rosemarie Hardin, co-chairwoman of Think Pink and a breast surgeon at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, thanked everyone who helped make the donation possible.

“We are very grateful to a very generous community that comes out in full force every year to make each and every year better than the last,” Hardin said. “It truly does go to benefit the patients and women of our community and that is our goal.”

Joseph said the funds donated Friday were raised during last October’s Think Pink event. She noted the fund is named after Janie Altmeyer, who lost her battle with breast cancer. The Think Pink event is held in her honor and memory.

Altmeyer started a small dinner among friends to raise money for breast cancer survivors. After her death, the dinner grew and is now held annually in her memory. Her vegetable lasagna is also served during the event.

“It’s the most we ever made,” Joseph said of the amount. “We have a very generous community and generous sponsors. We have a great team that puts this together. We love to give back to our community in the tri-state area.”

Joseph said planning is already underway for the next Think Pink event in October.

Also present for the check presentation were Debbie Stanton, program director for the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, and Jessica Moore, associate vice president of foundation and community relations for WVU Medicine.