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First Step

IA Golf Assn. Begins Cancer Campaign

By The Post-Journal

The Italian American Charity Golf Association recently presented WCA Hospital with a $50,000 check, proceeds from the 2010 IA golf tournament.

This is the first installment of a three-year, $150,000 pledge to continue the association’s support of local cancer care at WCA Hospital with the purchase of a minimally-invasive lung navigation system which will result in earlier diagnosis and treatment options for lung cancer patients.

“On behalf of the WCA family, I want to commend and thank the Italian American for their unwavering dedication to WCA Hospital and to the improvement of the cancer prevention, treatment, and services we can provide,” said Betsy T. Wright, WCA Hospital president and chief executive officer. “I am again reminded of the generous and passionate spirit of our community as together we continue our fight against cancer.”

The 2011 golf tournament, scheduled for June 9 to 11 at Holiday Valley in Ellicottville, will mark the IA’s 41st anniversary. Since its inception in 1971, the Italian American Charity Golf Association has contributed more than $960,000 to support cancer research, diagnosis, treatment and care and is on a “mission to a million” to surpass the $1,000,000 mark this year.

“The success of the Italian American is due to the generous investment of many businesses and individuals in our community who are committed to highest quality of local cancer care,” said Jack Munella Jr., Italian American chairman. “We are very thankful for this commitment because we know our families and friends will be better served here in our community hospital. We gratefully ask our community to help us in reaching our mission to a million this year.”

Electromagnetic Bronchoscopy is an electromagnetic lung navigation system that provides a minimally invasive pathway to peripheral lung lesions, even for patients with procedure-restricting conditions. It will enable highly-skilled WCA Hospital physicians to locate, gain access to, test, and plan treatment for lung lesions and lymph nodes that are often difficult to access safely or precisely with traditional procedures. Pulmonologists can take tissue samples and place radiosurgical markers in and around lung tumors. The technology helps thoracic surgeons to perform appropriate surgical procedures and radiation oncologists better plan and treat patients with external beam radiation at the WCA Cancer Center.

The Italian American Charity Golf Association event was the brainstorm of a small group of community-minded men who wanted to raise money for a local charity. Their dream was to create a golf tournament where one member of each two-man team was of Italian descent and the partner was of another nationality. Charitable gifts to the IA are accepted online through PayPal at www.IACharityGolf.com, or can be mailed to Italian American, PO Box 352, Jamestown, NY 14702-0352.

Jack Munella Jr., Italian American Charity Golf Association chairman, is pictured presenting a $50,000 check to Betsy T. Wright, WCA Hospital president and chief executive officer, representing the proceeds from the 2010 Italian American tournament. It is first installment of a three-year, $150,000 pledge for the purchase of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

Jack Munella Jr., Italian American Charity Golf Association chairman, is pictured presenting a $50,000 check to Betsy T. Wright, WCA Hospital president and chief executive officer, representing the proceeds from the 2010 Italian American tournament. It is first installment of a three-year, $150,000 pledge for the purchase of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

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