Girls Night Out organizers donate $150K to Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center

Kelly Urban, The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
·2 min read

May 9—JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Through community support, $150,000 has been raised for the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center to continue patient care services.

Funds were collected at the Taunia Oechslin Girls Night Out event that was held April 30 at 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial in downtown Johnstown where 1,000 women were in attendance.

"It's so exciting that we have reached that $1.5 million mark for the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center over 16 years," said Meghan Stahl-Skinner, board president of the Taunia Oechslin Girls Night Out Foundation. "All of the help that we have given to patients and we continue to give to patients just brings us an overwhelming feeling that we are helping the community. We feel like we are really making a difference with women and breast health."

Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center's partnership with Taunia Oechslin Girls Night Out provides financial assistance to patients for mammograms, breast biopsies and surgeries, genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndromes and education about the importance of breast cancer screenings.

Funds also support equipment and technology needed to screen, detect and diagnose breast cancer, ensuring access to the most up-to-date technology for community members.

Erin Goins, director of the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center, said it's remarkable that the Taunia Oechslin Girls Night Out committee has reached its 16th event and achieved $1.5 million in fundraising for the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center.

"Their dedication shines through as they tirelessly organize an unforgettable evening aiming to raise awareness for breast cancer and vital funds for patient care," she said. "We deeply appreciate the ongoing generosity of the committee, community members and supporters year after year."

Girls Night Out began as a small "pay it forward" project by Oechslin, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 36 years old and succumbed to the disease at the age of 39.

It was her goal that every woman be educated about breast cancer, understand the value of early detection and receive proper treatment.

"It's astonishing that 16 years in that the community is still supporting us and are so very generous with the fundraising that evening," Stahl- Skinner said. "We are so proud to hand this $150,000 check to the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center, and we look forward to 2025."