Brake for Breakfast Brings Awareness and Screenings to Southeast Ohio

Video courtesy of The Post Athens

On Oct. 1, East State Street was buzzing with pink for Brake for Breakfast, an Athens community event for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Hosted by OhioHealth, Hocking, Athens and Perry County Community Action Group (HAPCAP) and CareSource, it brought together community members and volunteers for a fun, meaningful morning.

The event offered locals a free drive-through breakfast and a chance to speak with healthcare professionals, schedule annual cancer screenings and learn more about preventive care. OhioHealth’s mobile mammography unit was also on site, providing convenient access to mammograms and encouraging early detection.

“Early screenings save lives, so we help get clear information out there and educate people,” Brittany Jarvis, administrative manager at the OhioHealth Cancer Center in Athens, told The Post. “Even having this service available, we know that’s going to catch cancers early and educate people on the risk factors.”

The event also brought attention to the hurdles people in Southeast Ohio face when getting care. Many residents have to travel to Columbus or beyond, and transportation issues make that even harder. Nearly 57 percent of Athens residents were living in poverty in 2023 according to City-Data, and research from the National Health Council shows that poverty often goes hand-in-hand with higher health risks.

“Our goal is to help people navigate health related social concerns,” Julie Gladney, HAPCAP’s health programs coordinator, told The Post. “Housing, utilities, food, those sorts of resources. Our community health workers work as coaches to help people solve whatever challenges they're facing.”

And volunteers were eager to help spread the word.

“I saw this event and thought that it’s a great cause,” Patti Anderson, a first-time volunteer, told The Post. “I felt the need to volunteer. I can do this here and then share the information that I learned and the experience I gained from today and go back and share it with family and friends.”

“It feels good to have an event like this where we’re celebrating survivors overcoming a devastating diagnosis,” Gladney said. “The event is fun. So anytime we can get together and have fun and raise awareness, reducing barriers, I think we’re winning.”