UW–Platteville and Southwest Health Center will team together to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the importance of mammograms by lighting the “M” on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
The world’s largest “M,” which measures 241 feet high by 214 feet wide, will be illimunated by 16 spotlights with pink filters to call attention to the importance of mammography and early detection of cancer. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in her life, yet only 50 percent of women who should have regular mammograms get them, according to Southwest Health Center statistics. SHC recommends a mammogram and clinical breast exam at least every two years.
“We are happy to use the ‘M’ to highlight the importance of mammography, early detection and breast cancer awareness,” said UW–Platteville Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “We are pleased to partner with Southwest Health Center in calling attention to this form of cancer, which unfortunately touches so many families. The pink lighting of the big ‘M’ is one of many things our students, faculty and staff are doing to help with awareness of early detection.”
The public is invited to the “M” for the lighting.
“Our partnership affords the community of Platteville a unique opportunity to draw attention to early detection of breast cancer through advanced digital mammography,” said Dan Rohrbach, Southwest Health Center CEO. “Our community is proud of the big ‘M’ and the rich history of mining and education it stands for. Now, we can be proud that in Platteville ‘M’ also stands for mammogram. It is our hope this pink ‘M’ partnership reminds more women to have this potentially life-saving exam.”
Students from the Wisconsin Mining School built the “M” 76 years ago. The Wisconsin Mining School (later known as the Wisconsin Institute of Technology) combined with the Platteville State Teachers College in 1959 to form what is now UW–Platteville. The “M” sits on the Platte Mound, four miles northeast of the Platteville city limits, and can be seen in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois.
