Bob Olszewski, general manager of The Beverly Review, presents a $2,500 check to Jim Egan, annual fund coordinator for OSF HealthCare Foundation–Little Company of Mary Medical Center, on May 26 in support of the OSF Beverly Breast Cancer Walk. The donation was made possible by advertisers on May 4 in the community newspaper’s annual “The Power of Pink” special section promoting the event. For the last two events, the pandemic forced organizers to change the walk to a virtual format, but the OSF Beverly Breast Cancer Walk returned to its traditional format on May 8, Mother’s Day, as thousands of people happily strolled down Longwood Drive. The walk, founded in 2000, has become a beloved Mother’s Day tradition in the community, attracting 14,000 people to each event in recent years. Proceeds have helped purchase digital-mammography equipment, hire new staff and establish a crisis fund for breast-cancer patients in need. OSF HealthCare, based in Peoria, merged with Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers in February 2020, and walk proceeds have benefitted the local institution for 20 years. Over $6.6 million has been raised by the walk, and this year, proceeds will support the expansion of OSF diagnostic mammography facilities in the community. (Review photo)
