Breast Cancer Fundraiser

One South Okanagan mayor is willing to go bald for a good cause.

The South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation is launching a campaign called: 'Imagine the Best in Breast Cancer Detection.' It's aim is to raise money for a Digital Stereotactic Mammography machine at Penticton Regional Hospital.

Keremeos mayor Walter Despot is challenging all the other mayors and councillors in the region to make a donation toward the campaign. If they do donate before March 9, Despot promises to shave his head at the campaign launch.

Despot will host the event with guest speakers Lorraine Ferguson, who is the Communities Administrator for Penticton Regional Hospital and Zeno Cescon, the Director of Digital Imaging for Interior Health.

The cost of the state of the art equipment is approximately $1 million, which includes minor renovations to the mammography area in PRH.

Officials hope to have the machine in place by next summer and will replace the current film mammography machine.

The official launch of the campaign will take place on March 9 at Penticton Lakeside Resort.