Salons help fight cancer

Every time Julie Nelson gives her clients a great new haircut, she’s also helping out a cause that’s dear to her heart. For each cut, she’s donating a quarter to the St. Mary’s Hospital of Superior Foundation. The money raised will go to buy a digital mammography unit at St. Mary’s Hospital of Superior. She’s one of many Superior stylists who have joined this new fundraising effort.

Nelson, owner of Trends Salon and Spa, has been active in fundraising for breast cancer awareness since she lost her sister to the disease. She found that her staff was eager to participate. The “Quarter a Cut” promotion seemed like a good fit for the salon.

“It’s a really neat idea,” Nelson said. “We’re also challenging our clients to participate by donating a quarter for each haircut. Our stylists have been very supportive of this program.”

Several other Superior salons have joined in as well. They include Belknap Plaza Beauty Salon, Blondies Salon, Cutting Edge Businesses Unlimited, LLC, Denise’s Hair Design, Harvey’s Family Hair Care, Instyle, Patti’s Hair and Wig Boutique and Utopia Salon and Spa.

The “Quarter a Cut” campaign kicked off in April, and will continue for the next six months. All of the money raised will go directly to the purchase of a new digital mammography machine at St. Mary’s Hospital of Superior.

“We’re so pleased to have the community’s support as we embark on this campaign,” said Mary Shaw, administrator at St. Mary’s Hospital of Superior. “This machine will offer state-of-the art mammography to patients who like to receive their health care on this side of the bridge.”

Digital mammography shows improved rates for early detection of breast cancer, which can help save lives. It also offers increased quality of imaging for dense breast tissue, and involves less overall radiation to the patient.

The images can easily become part of the patient’s electronic medical record, providing potentially life-saving information.

“Please visit one of these fine Superior salons to support our efforts,” Shaw said. “We hope this campaign will be a benefit for these salons, and for our patients.”

Donations to the campaign can be mailed to St. Mary’s Hospital of Superior Foundation, attention Megan Kern, 400 East Third Street, Duluth, MN 55805.

Please make the check to the St. Mary’s Hospital of Superior Foundation, and write “digital mammography” on the subject line of the check.

Tags: community, cancer