LINKS Charity committee members, lead sponsor Truck-Lite and UPMC and major sponsors present a check in the amount of $400,000 to UPMC Chautauqua from their 4-year pledge towards the purchase of the Discovery 630 system. Submitted photo

LINKS Charity has raised a total of $1.5 million in the local fight against breast cancer over the past 27 years.

Now in its 28th year, LINKS Charity continues to support UPMC Chautauqua in enhancing local cancer care efforts. LINKS Charity is looking forward to its most ambitious calendar of events and activities yet. Beginning with the annual LPGA golf pro-am, golf scramble, and celebration auction today and Tuesday and finishing with the ninth annual LINKS Pink Walk on Oct. 12 should prove to be another record-breaking fundraising year for LINKS Charity.

These efforts were spearheaded by lead-sponsor Truck-Lite and UPMC and major sponsors Cummins Engine, United Refining Company, and AlSTAR EMS, along with associate sponsor LeChase Construction and many other community supporters.

All are welcome to watch the tournament at Moonbrook Country Club Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and join in the basket raffles and silent auctions on Monday.

Some of the items include a freezer donated by ACME the Appliance Store, a week stay at Tamarack donated by Century 21 Turner Brokers, tickets to the Buffalo Bills and Sabres, and much more. We extend an invitation to the LINKS Charity Dinner Auction following the tournament, where Dr. Hussain, medical oncologist for UPMC Chautauqua and UPMC Hamot will be speaking on behalf of the new medical oncology unit slated to open in the fall at UPMC Chautauqua. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased online at www.linkscharity.com.

LINKS Charity is once again taking a leadership role in the local fight against breast cancer with their first year of their four-year, $400,000 pledge toward cancer care including medical oncology.

“We believe this new unit will prove to be beneficial to our community, by providing private comfortable spaces during treatments,” said Mike Roberts, executive director for LINKS Charity. “The $400,000 pledge is an aggressive goal, but we are confident that the community will support this effort to keep care local.”

LINKS Charity, established in 1991, was co-founded by Mary Blair and Sondra Anderson. Their commitment and passion along with many benevolent volunteers, including Allen Short, Executive Director for the first nineteen years, has been remarkable. LINKS Charity continues in its mission to link the community, business, and industry together to enhance local cancer care at UPMC Chautauqua.

UPMC Chautauqua Hospital’s Cancer Care Program, the only program in the region recognized for cancer care excellence by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, is staffed by a team of expert physicians and health care professionals under the medical direction of a board-certified radiation oncologist. The program provides a wide range of cancer care services from routine screenings to the diagnosis and treatment of patients diagnosed with cancer.

Those who would like to make a tax-deductible gift to support LINKS Charity or purchase a dinner ticket please contact Megan Barone, director of development, UPMC Chautauqua at 664-8423 or mail your tax-deductible gift to: UPMC Chautauqua Office of Development, P.O. Box 840, Jamestown, New York 14702-0840.