The Mermaid Project Bench Donated to
Brazosport Regional Cancer Center
Judith Pepper, Executive Director of Brazosport Health Foundation;
Kelly Gale Amen, Artist of The Mermaid Project Bench;
JoAnn Maxon; Carol Sampson; Jay Sampson VP of Facilities at Brazosport Regional;
Daniel Buche, CEO/President of Brazosport Regional Health System
The Cancer Center at Brazosport Regional Health System is the recipient of The Mermaid Bench created by Kelly Gale Amen Design. The Mermaid Bench along with the Susan G. Komen for the CureŽ Honoring the Promise Collection Bench, donated in 2009, will sit outside of the Cancer Center for patients and their families to enjoy.
 As the only one of its kind, The Mermaid Project is an outreach program offering breast health education and free access to breast screenings and diagnostics for women and men age 40 and over without resources to pay. Brazosport Health Foundation invited Kelly Gale Amen, artist and furniture designer, to create the bench design for auction during the 2010 Bluebonnet Social Club featuring The Beach Boys
Jay and Carol Sampson, and JoAnn Maxon, Carol’s mother, won the bid for The Mermaid Bench and generously donated it to Brazosport Regional Cancer Center. On Friday, July 15, a dedication ceremony was held to honor the donors and to place the bench in the entry of the Cancer Center. A quote from JoAnn Maxon, “Awareness Comes Before Victory” was engraved on a plaque and attached to the bench.
One in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. If detected early, the five year survival rate is over 95%. The quote from JoAnn Maxon signifies that early detection is the best protection.
The Cancer Center was added to the hospital in 1993, after a significant capital campaign by Brazosport Health Foundation, and donations from members of the surrounding community. The Cancer Center is dedicated to excellent patient care. Drs. Falcon, Pant and Bonnen and the compassionate team offer individualized, state-of-the-art care close to home. Through the continued support of the community, The Mermaid Project’s partnership with Susan G. Komen for the CureŽ and the Brazosport Health Foundation, Brazosport Regional will continue to meet the health and medical needs of the community they serve for many years to come.
About Brazosport Health Foundation:
Brazosport Health Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds and increasing awareness for high quality healthcare in our community. Foundation initiatives include The Mermaid Project, the Adelaide Thorpe Scholarship Fund, the Bluebonnet Social and select capital campaigns for medical advancements at Brazosport Regional Health System. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.brazosport-health-foundation.org.
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