Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast is “Flocking for a Cure”

A flock of pink flamingos will be roosting on the front lawn of Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast during the last two weeks of October. The flamingos are available for “adoption” for a small fee to help raise awareness of breast cancer and to raise funds to support breast-cancer care on the Emerald Coast.

Community members are invited to adopt one or more yard-size pink flamingo(s) in honor or in memory of a loved-one. Each bird will have an ID tag with the names of those the adopters wish to honor or remember. The flamingo flock will be displayed in front of the hospital from October 17 through October 31.

“We hope the flamingos are a fun way to raise awareness of breast cancer and the importance of early detection, while raising funds for local breast-cancer care,” says Dr. Thomas R. Johnson of Sacred Heart Medical Oncology Group. “We hope to see the entire front lawn of the hospital turn pink during these two weeks.”

The pink flamingos are available at the Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast Gift Shop on the first floor of the hospital on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. “Adoption fees” are $10 for one and $25 for three flamingos. For more information, call the Gift Shop at (850) 278-3032. 

Proceeds of the “Flocking for a Cure” project go to the Sacred Heart Foundation and will benefit breast cancer care on the Emerald Coast. 

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. About 1 in 8, or 12 percent, of all women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. Declining death rates from breast cancer in the past 25 years are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment. At this time there are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

The Olson Women’s Diagnostic Center at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast conveniently centralizes all screening and diagnostic appointments for mammograms, stereotactic breast biopsies, ultrasounds and bone density scans. A dedicated patient-care navigator provides patient advocacy, coordination of services, education and support to all women and their families.

The Sacred Heart Cancer Center combines excellent treatment technology, great physicians and healthcare providers, a healing environment, and individualized patient care, supported by the latest knowledge and research. The cancer specialists with Sacred Heart Medical Oncology Group are equipped with the knowledge, experience and skills to give cancer patients the advantage they need in fighting this disease. Sacred Heart’s state-of-the-art Cancer Center in Santa Rosa Beach with outpatient treatment services was designed with patient comfort in mind.

The Sacred Heart Cancer Center is affiliated with MD Anderson Cancer Network®, a program of MD Anderson Cancer Center. This global network brings together a select group of hospitals and healthcare systems that share the mission to eliminate cancer.

For more information on Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, visit www.sacredheartemerald.org.

Dr. Thomas R. Johnson, Medical Oncologist with Sacred Heart Cancer Center, and Helaina Darlington, Cancer Center nurse, examine the yard-sized flamingos that are up for adoption at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast.