On a recent April afternoon, it was business as usual at the Rex Cancer Center of Rex Healthcare in Raleigh. Only three parking spaces remained in the adjacent special lot designated for outpatient cancer center treatment, and there were signs of renovations all around us as Vickie Byler, Director of the Rex Cancer Center, explained the multiple expansions in progress. All at once, the Rex Cancer Center is expanding its medical oncology practice, expanding its day infusion center, redoing the resource center and creating a “Cancer Specialty Center”.

The Rex Cancer Center has a long tradition of caring for patients not only through the latest technology and cutting-edge treatments for cancer but also with compassion and support throughout their care.

Rex Cancer Center provides patients and their families with educational programs, screening opportunities, patient navigation, nutritional consults, support groups and counseling. This is serious cancer care—from discovery to recovery.

As one of two primary sponsors of the charity golf tournament sponsored by the Devils Ridge Ladies Golf Association for the benefit of the Pretty in Pink Foundation, Rex Cancer Center demonstrates once again its commitment to championing the cause of women diagnosed with breast cancer. Through its work with Pretty in Pink, Rex Cancer Center provides treatment for underinsured breast cancer patients at greatly reduced costs. These are the women who might ordinarily fall through the cracks of care.

The Pretty in Pink Foundation was begun in 2004 by Raleigh breast surgeon Dr. Lisa Tolnitch who was recently named a 2010 Soroptimist Ruby award winner for Women Helping Women. This is in recognition of her work directly improving the lives of other women and girls both in this community and beyond.

Several years ago, Dr. Tolnitch found that women who have little or no health insurance and who do not qualify for government assistance programs such as Medicaid frequently delay or discontinue treatment for their breast cancers. They are often forced to choose between providing basic family needs (food and rent) and getting the medical treatment that could be life-saving. Dr. Tolnitch began Pretty in Pink as a way to fill the “gap” for these women. The Foundation provides assistance (based on a sliding income assessment scale) with co-pays, deductibles and other out of pocket expenses.

Last July, Pretty in Pink was featured in a Today Show story. Since then, requests for financial assistance have spiked 300%. During 2009, Pretty in Pink provided aid for 427 women including services such as surgery (54), chemotherapy (276), and radiation therapy (119) among others. With a need so great, The Devils Ridge Ladies Golf Association is, once again, enthusiastically sponsoring its annual charity golf tournament to benefit the Pretty in Pink Foundation. This year the tournament will take place on June 17. Registrations have already begun. The cost of the tournament is still only $75 and includes a continental breakfast, time on the practice facility, goodie bag, 18 holes of golf with cart at Devils Ridge Golf Club, team and skills prizes and lunch. Golfers may sign up as individuals or as foursomes. Registration forms are available at the Devils Ridge Pro shop or from Margi Ludwig at 557-7254 or margiludwig@yahoo.com The tournament format will be a four person elimination scramble with a shot-gun start at 9 a.m.

This tournament always sells out weeks ahead of time so don’t delay. The tournament is a great way to support a very worthy charity while having lots of fun on a premier private golf course.

If you’d like to be a sponsor of the tournament, please contact Margi Ludwig. Pretty in Pink is a charitable organization under IRS tax code 501-c3.