More than 200 people attended the 2025 Pink Party. It is one of the largest fundraisers of the year for the mobile mammogram screening unit, Bonnie’s Bus.
The WVU Cancer Institute raised $151,000 to support Bonnie’s Bus at the 2025 Pink Party, a spirited evening to celebrate the state-of-the-art mobile mammography screening unit.
Bonnie’s Bus provides essential breast cancer screenings for underinsured and uninsured patients in West Virginia, especially in rural parts of the state with limited or no access to screening mammography.
“I have the distinct honor of witnessing the tremendous work of Bonnie’s Bus from two vantage points — as the director of the WVUCI, I see the profound impact Bonnie’s Bus has on raising awareness, educating about early detection, and meeting our goal of providing lifesaving care to some of the more remote places in our state,” Hannah Hazard-Jenkins, M.D., director of the WVU Cancer Institute, Jean and Laurence DeLynn Chair of Oncology, and associate professor of surgery at the WVU School of Medicine, said. “But additionally, I am witness to the lifesaving work of Bonnie’s Bus as I treat women who have been diagnosed as a result of screening mammograms done on the unit.”
More than 220 people joined presenting sponsors Ben and Jo Statler for the nostalgia-packed event held Sept. 15 at the venue previously occupied by Bartini Prime. Thanks to generous donations from the community, guests enjoyed an evening of food, fun, and fundraising in support of WVU Cancer Institute efforts to improve women’s health and expand access to care.
Since Bonnie’s Bus was unveiled in 2009, more than 33,000 screenings have been performed across the state. More than 200 cases of breast cancer have been diagnosed since Bonnie’s Bus began screenings 17 years ago.
The Statlers established the mobile screening unit with a generous donation in honor of Jo’s mother, Bonnie Wells Wilson, who succumbed to breast cancer because of limited access to screening in rural West Virginia.
Bonnie’s Bus meets the very specific need for availability and access.
“We hear from patients all the time that if Bonnie’s Bus had not come to their town, they would not get screened,” Jenny Ostien, WVU Cancer Institute director of mobile screening, said. “We are proud that we can offer patients the same high quality of care they would receive at our brick-and-mortar facility. Knowing that Bonnie's Bus has provided mammograms to people who may not have otherwise received one is humbling and motivates us to keep moving forward to reach even more people.”
Special guests at this year’s Pink Party included Mountaineer mascot Cade Kincaid and new WVU President Michael T. Benson, who attended his first Pink Party.
Bonnie’s Bus ensures that all eligible patients have financial access to critical services. Funding comes from many sources including the Pink Party, community fundraising, corporate support, foundation support, and individual donations.
This year’s Pink Party was made possible thanks to title sponsors including Reita Hall, whose gift was made in memory of Bonnie Wells Wilson’s brother, Hubert Wells; Sherry Belldina and friends; Gilead Oncology; and diamond sponsors David and Patricia Biafora.
To learn more about supporting Bonnie’s Bus, visit WVUCancer.org/Giving or contact Director of Annual Giving, Events and Community Relations Stephanie McCandless at smccandless@wvuf.org for more information. All contributions are made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University and its affiliated entities.