Carolina Lady Anglers gives After Care Essentials $15,000 for cancer survivors
October 7, 2019
The Carolina Lady Anglers (CLA) is contributing $15,000 this year to After Care Essentials in support of the West Ashley service’s 30-year mission to help women recover after breast cancer surgery. CLA raises money throughout the year by hosting an annual fishing tournament, Fishing for the Cure, and setting up booths at boat shows and other fishing tournaments. The donation check presentation will be Wednesday, October 9th at 6:00 p.m. at After Care Essentials in West Ashley.
After Care Essentials, a local mastectomy products and services provider with high quality products, customer care and education, is matching the $15,000 donation. All the money will go to provide post-operative care for cancer patients — men and children, as well as, women who can’t afford the services or are under-insured. These services include providing various mastectomy products, hair replacements, lymphedema pumps (which cost $3,000+) and custom-made garments.
The Carolina Lady Anglers members, including Alicia Woods, President and Tournament Chair, Andrea Kozloski, will present their donation check to After Care Essentials Kay Cooley Reid, the founder, President and CEO, whom herself is a cancer survivor. The presentation will be Wednesday, October 9th at 6:00 p.m. at After Care Essentials. Stationed at the presentation will be the North Charleston Fire Department with their pink fire truck that raises awareness for breast cancer, especially during October as it is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Responding to Lady Anglers’ contribution, Reid says, “What this means to us is that we don’t have to turn women away. We don’t and wouldn’t do that anyway, but with the contribution we’re able to reach many more women.”
“What it does for the community?” she continues. “I couldn’t begin to put it into words. The women who come here are broken. With all the insurance changes that have happened in recent years, we’ve seen women dropped from their coverage or with much higher deductibles. This help from Carolina Lady Anglers is vital. Without it and After Care’s matching contribution, there are women in the Tri-County area who would be going without these essentials.”
Reid, who has had a long career as a nurse, says, “patients who get help through the contributions they wouldn’t otherwise receive are so grateful. We see facial expressions, demeanor and outlook change. They go from being totally withdrawn, in some cases, to leaving with a smile and saying how much better and whole they feel. Their lives are changed.”
CLA President, Alicia Woods says, “It truly warms my heart knowing that we are able to help so many people and have a positive impact on such a difficult time in their life!”
The Carolina Lady Anglers has raised more than $200,000 in its 22-year existence. With its new $15,000 contribution to After Care Essentials, it has now contributed $122,800 for cancer survivors over the past 13 years.
About Carolina Lady Anglers (CLA)
The Carolina Lady Anglers are the only all-female fishing club in the greater Charleston area. The main mission of the club is to raise money for local breast cancer patients and help them in their fight. For more information at CLA email [email protected] or visit their website at www.carolinaladyanglers.org.
