Chat-World » year at Las Vegas, the mammogram van was

At 42, Randi Evans had never had a mammogram. But as a volunteer for a nonprofit that helps women obtain the breast X-ray, the Sherman, Texas, resident felt she needed to be a true advocate for the group.While volunteering with Women Rock at Texas Motorplex in Dallas earlier this month, she received her first mammogram, thanks to a program created by NHRA Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria. Started three years ago, Free Mammograms for the Fans provides mammograms at no cost to women attending an NHRA event in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month.It was an amazing experience, said Evans, a librarian media specialist. I am glad Ive had a mammogram now because it opens up your mind and makes you realize how important early detection is. If I hadnt gone to the races to volunteer, I probably still wouldnt have had a mammogram.Now in its fourth year, the program initially was offered only at the Las Vegas NHRA event. Dallas was added last year, which means women attending those NHRA events on a Friday or Saturday in October can obtain a free mammogram. In the programs first three years, 335 mammograms were provided. During the Oct. 13-16 NHRA event at Dallas, another 55 were added to that total. The programs goal of 100 annually is expected to be reached this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedways The Strip.Every October, we do some sort of pink theme for our car, our crew shirts and our starting line shirts, but we wanted to do something more proactive, DeJoria said of the programs creation.Today, the Baylor Health Care System provides the mammovan in Dallas, and Nevada Health Centers supplies the one used in Las Vegas. It doesnt cost anything to get the mobile units to the dragway, but DeJorias program must cover the expense of each mammogram. She said thats about $276 per person in Dallas and approximately $300 each in Las Vegas.DeJorias fundraising efforts for the program are yearlong. Last year, she had a pretty bad explosion during a run at Seattle, so her team auctioned bits and pieces of the car. Toyota Racing, her teams manufacturer, Patron Spirits Co. and Kalitta Motorsports also make donations.Sherry Fox, mobile account executive for Baylors breast imaging, said she wasnt sure what to expect as far as turnout for the inaugural year at the Dallas NHRA event but was pleased with the results.This is an unusual circumstance, being at the races, Fox said. We have to have a minimum of 20 patients scheduled for a full day and 10 patients for a half-day. I think 26 [women on Friday] and 29 [on Saturday] that didnt even have an appointment is fantastic. I was surprised at the number of repeats that we had. We went to lunch one day, came back, and there were four or five women sitting there. Everyone is so gracious and appreciative.DeJoria said she was a little concerned in the programs inaugural year about how women would react to getting a mammogram while attending an event with a male companion or relative.Its a very masculine-fueled event, and we were concerned that either they would be too embarrassed to do it or too fearful, DeJoria said. Luckily, that was not the case. We had a great outpouring of support from the teams.That first year at Las Vegas, the mammogram van was parked at the end of DeJorias pit. She spent her time between runs welcoming women, trying to make them feel comfortable, holding their hands and letting them know they werent alone. Her father, John Paul DeJoria, attended the event and spent his time meeting the women.DeJorias father owns John Paul Mitchell Systems (known for its Paul Mitchell hair care products), Patron Tequila and John Paul Pet Products. He attended this years Dallas event and plans to be at Las Vegas as well.A lot of women are hair dressers, so they recognize him, and thats a comforting feeling, DeJoria said.DeJoria believes the participation by the women connected to the sport has helped the fans feel more comfortable about getting a mammogram at the mobile units.When they see women from different teams going in there, like the wives of crew chiefs or the moms of drivers with their team shirts on, its like everybody is in this together, DeJoria said. I think the outpouring of support helps the women feel more comfortable in that moment. I have a few letters from women that have come from different states that found out that we were doing this, and they came to the races just to get the mammogram. It just shows its not a fly-by-night idea. Its really working.DeJoria said sometimes the programs success can be a bit emotionally overwhelming.In Dallas, I was signing autographs in between rounds on Sunday, and a woman and her husband came up to me, DeJoria said. She said, I dont want an autograph. I just want to meet you. She grabbed my hands, looked me in the eyes and said, Im a cancer survivor today, and thats because of you. I said, Wow! I wanted to cry. I was trying to keep my composure. Her husband was almost in tears.It was such a special moment. Its things like that that makes the world a better place. I love what I get to do, but also because of what I get to do, I can do things like this.Deb Williams is a North Carolina-based writer and former editor. She has covered auto racing for United Press International, USA Today and The Charlotte Observer. 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