FAIRBANKS — A table overflowing with scrapbooks filled with 36 years of newspaper clippings sparked memories, laughter and comments among attendees at the Breast Cancer Detection Center open house Wednesday.

The gathering was organized to honor seven tireless volunteers who helped develop and support the nonprofit center during the years.

In 1974, a group of local women meeting for lunch started talking about the lack of mammography access to detect breast cancer in Fairbanks. In time, that luncheon conversation grew into a determined initiative to provide the much needed service.

By 1976, the women’s fundraising and educational efforts coalesced into the opening of the Breast Cancer Detection Center, that continues to provide mammograms to women in Fairbanks and rural Interior communities.

Some of the women who pioneered this center more than three decades ago, and continue to support it, were on hand.

Former Alaska first lady Nancy Murkowski, whose name is engraved on newly installed plaque in the BCDC reception area, opened the event with memories of those early days.

“We begged, borrowed and stealed,” she said. “We didn’t know what we were doing. But my mantra has always been, “Never underestimate the power of a woman.”

The women’s power succeeded. They met their goals, procuring a mammogram machine and setting it up in a basement donated by the Alaska National Bank of the North on Fourth Avenue. Other community members helped along the way.

Wednesday’s honorees included John Dickinson, Joan Reiter, Nancy Murkowski, Catherine Stevens, Jan Swanson, Alice Lundquist, and Judy Worley.

In 2007, BCDC payed off the loan on its building at 1905 Cowles St. Today, the BCDC Mammography Clinic features digital mammography and mobile mammography machines that travel with BCDC technologists to villages and communities off the road system.

Every year, BCDC provides thousands of mammograms, many of them free or at a reduced rate. Clients with insurance also can be seen at the BCDC mammography clinic.

Mammogram machines travel by air from Hooper Bay to Nuiqusut and all places in between. The mobile mammogram van travels by barge throughout Prince William Sound and the Aleutian Chain. Dutch Harbor, Cold Bay and Sand Point are destinations next week.

The nonprofit is funded by payment for services and donations by patients, as well as support from community members, corporate partners and the annual “The Gala Hat Affair” in October.

Nancy Murkowski and her family are still involved in supporting the center.

In 1994, when a new mammogram machine was needed, Nancy organized the Waterfall Committee, an annual August fishing fundraiser at the Waterfall Resort on Prince of Wales Island. Members of Congress, lobbyists, corporate CEOS and others have been annual visitors.

The first year, $140,000 was donated to BCDC and the in 16 years since, the annual check has been at least $200,000, allowing the center to purchase its building and maintain up-to-date mammography equipment.

Honorees
John Dickinson

During the 18 years Dickinson served on the board, he was employed at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.

Dickinson’s financial savvy was responsible for helping the Breast Cancer Detection Center get its location at 1905 Cowles Street.

He helped BCDC stay focused financially and pay off the building in 2007.

He is retired and lives in Florida where he maintains an interest in BCDC and still calls from time to time check in.

Joan Reiter

Reiter’s vision and hard work helped establish the Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska. She made the contacts to support the center and helped form a board in 1974. She envisioned a clinic offering free services with voluntary staff and physicians.

Reiter lives in Chandler, Ariz., where she started the National Medical Research Foundation.

The initial 1974 BCDC board consisted of: Joan Reiter, president; Elisabeth Hiatt, vice president; Mrs. William Martin, treasurer; Nancy Murkowski, secretary, and members, Mrs. Weldon Green, Alice Lundquist, Helen Miklautsch and Judy Worley.

Nancy Murkowski More than three decades ago when mammograms weren’t available locally, Nancy Murkowski and a group of Fairbanks women decided it was time mammograms became accessible to Interior women. Through their vision, fundraising efforts and dedication, the Breast Cancer Detection Center became a reality.

In the 1990s, Murkowski organized the Waterfall Committee, an annual BCDC fishing fundraiser at the Waterfall Resort on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast. Members of Congress, lobbyists, corporate CEO’s and others attend. The annual donation has never been less than $200,000.

Catherine Stevens

Stevens played a major role in the early days of BCDC’s development. It was her work as an attorney that helped BCDC obtain its 501C3 status and establish by-laws.

She was chosen to represent BCDC because of her tenacity.

Jan Swanson

Swanson’s contribution to BCDC comes from experience as a nurse and knowledge as a breast cancer survivor. Swanson was BCDC’s connection to the medical community. It was her passion for women’s health issues that made her a stand out on the board.

Alice Lundquist

Lundquist was one of the founders of the Breast Cancer Detection Center of Fairbanks.

She is remembered by board members as a work horse. If there was something that needed to be done she was there and was happy to do it.

Lundquist died in November 2005. There is a memorial fund in her name. Her family continues to be strong supporters.

Judy Worley

Worley was treated for breast cancer in 1977. She was depressed and alone. Helen Miklautsch, a BCDC board member, visited and said they needed help.

The clinic was a mess. Worley cleaned the walls and floors. She went to the surplus store and brought back two desks.

Worley collected pictures and started the first scrapbooks of BCDC’s history.