GROVES — With blonde hair pulled back away from her face and clad in a hospital gown-type shirt, Taffy Cook wiped tears from her eyes as tried to explain her emotions on Wednesday.

The Nederland woman met with Regina Rogers, founder and chair of the Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” Program and Philpott Motors General Manager Bob Thewman prior to receiving a free mammogram. As Cook spoke, she began to cry. Her last mammogram was two years ago and since then she has noticed changes in her body.

“This is a blessing,” Cook, of Nederland, said of the free mammogram. “That’s all I can say.”

Cook, 51, is one of 34 women who received free mammograms courtesy of the Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” Program and breast cancer program sponsor Philpott Motors. The clients filled out paperwork and took necessary preparations inside First Baptist Church in Groves before heading out to the pastel colored mammogram bus.

“Breast cancer is one of the biggest killers in America and a lot of people cannot afford a mammogram,” Thewman said. “If we can save just one life from this, it is worth it.”

Philpott and its 200 employees have raised more than $25,000 for the “Gift of Life” Breast Cancer Program during the past two years. Thewman explained that employees have had various fundraisers through the years such as blue jean Fridays where employees donate $5 to wear jeans on Fridays. The donations help the organization provide extensive educational outreach, free mammograms and access to follow-up cancer treatment for medically underserved southeast Texas women.

“We are always looking for ways to give back to the community,” he said. “To look around and see the women who receive mammograms smile as they know they did something to save their life.”

Nearly 2,000 woman have received free mammograms and there have been 18 diagnosed with cancer, Rogers said.

The Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” Breast Cancer Program has been saving lives for 17 years. Regina Rogers considers this as “17 years of spreading love.”

The “Gift of Life”  provides free mammograms for medically underserved southeast Texas women.

You are eligible for a free “Gift of Life” mammogram if:

    • You do not have private insurance, Medicaid or Medicare

    • You live in southeast Texas, including Jefferson, Orange and Hardin counties

    • Have limited income

    • You are at least 40 years of age, with the following exceptions; a woman may be as young as 30 years of age if her mother, sister or grandmother had breast cancer at a young age, a woman may receive a first mammogram at age 35, but will not be eligible again until she is 40.

 For more information on how to register for a free mammogram call 833-3663.

mmeaux@panews.com