Atrium Health Floyd’s Paper Doll Parade 5K to Raise Breast Cancer Awareness
Rhonda Young Highlights Importance of Screenings During WEIS Interview
ROME, Ga. – Atrium Health Floyd is once again gearing up for its annual Paper Doll Parade and Breast Cancer Awareness 5K, a community tradition set for Saturday, Sept. 27, at Ridge Ferry Park in Rome. The event, held in partnership with Harbin Clinic, Floyd Healthcare Foundation, and Atrium Health Floyd-Polk Foundation, combines fitness, fundraising, and fun to promote breast cancer awareness and help provide screenings for women in need.
On Tuesday morning, Rhonda Young, Imaging Services Manager at Atrium Health Floyd, joined WEIS Radio to discuss the upcoming event and share the impact it makes on the community. You can listen to the interview in full below.
Why the Paper Dolls?
The Paper Doll Parade takes its name from the iconic dolls that symbolize breast health and education. Each year new designs are featured, and many are displayed as magnets or fashionable running figures around the park during the event. The dolls represent the message that “knowledge is power” when it comes to breast cancer prevention and treatment.
Race and Walk Details
The 5K race, a Peachtree Road Race qualifier, will begin at 9:00 a.m., with the 2-mile health walk starting at 9:15 a.m. A costume contest kicks off at 8:45 a.m., encouraging participants to dress in creative themes or wear as much pink as possible. After the race, breast cancer survivors will be recognized for their courage and strength.
Registration Information
-
Early bird registration: $26 for the 5K run and $21 for the walk (closed Aug. 10).
-
Regular registration: $31 for the run and $26 for the walk; closes Sept. 21.
-
Late registration (in-person only): $41 for both the run and the walk.
-
Group discounts: Teams can register through Sept. 12 for $21 (run) and $16 (walk).
Participants are encouraged to sign up as teams with fun names and themed costumes to celebrate the spirit of the event.
Registration is available through Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation.
Proceeds and Support Services
A portion of proceeds and donations go to the Floyd Healthcare Foundation’s scholarship fund, which assists uninsured women by covering the cost of mammograms on Atrium Health Floyd’s mobile mammography coaches. These mobile units are especially vital for women who lack transportation or live in rural areas.
“Our mammography coach coordinator goes out into communities, specifically seeking out patients without insurance so they can receive screenings,” Young explained. “We never want cost or distance to stand in the way of someone getting a mammogram.”
Additionally, Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center has introduced the latest diagnostic technology and, beginning Oct. 6, will offer diagnostic mammograms in Centre. Patients who require further testing, such as a biopsy, will be quickly connected to specialists at the Breast Center in Rome.
The Breast Center itself, which opened in 2008, was the first in northwest Georgia to provide same-day or next-day mammography results, ensuring that women can begin treatment without unnecessary delays.
How to Schedule a Mammogram
Appointments can be made at Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee by calling 706-509-6840 (Option 2). Patients can also self-schedule through the MyAtriumHealth portal, which automatically alerts their physician to place an order.
A Community Celebration with a Purpose
Young emphasized that while the event is about raising money and awareness, it’s also a time for the community to come together in a spirit of hope.
“It’s a celebration of survivors, a remembrance of those we’ve lost, and a chance to take meaningful action,” she said. “Everyone is invited to come out, bring their pink, make a donation, and most of all – have a great time while supporting an important cause.”
For more information or to register, visit the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Department website,https://runsignup.com/Race/Register/?raceId=116470 or call 706-509-6840, Option 2 for mammogram scheduling details.
https://www.floyd.org/newsroom/pages/details.aspx?NewsID=745
