The Puttin on the Pink Foundation is offering financial assistance to women in Pearl River County undergoing breast cancer treatment.

The non-profit organization, which aims to raise awareness about breast cancer, recently started a transportation assistance program to help alleviate the transportation costs associated with frequent hospital visits. For the past several years, the foundation has provided free mammograms to women who can’t afford the medical screening, said Abbie Turnage, the foundation’s board member and lead mammographer at Highland Community Hospital.

Turnage said the foundation is constantly thinking of ways to financially assist local women undergoing treatment.

“There’s no local cancer center in Pearl River County. We understand whoever has breast cancer and needs treatment has to travel so we’re trying to help alleviate their expenses,” Turnage said.

After noticing several people at Highland Community Hospital struggling to make ends meet between medical treatments and travel expenses, Turnage decided to pitch the idea to the foundation’s board. The board agreed and is currently accepting applications for the program, Turnage said.

In order to qualify, applicants must live in Pearl River County and be actively undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Once an individual becomes eligible, they will receive a prepaid gas card to use towards transportation, Turnage said.

The prepaid cards are funded by the foundation and businesses across the county.

Turnage said they’ve received several applications so far and approved an applicant who’s already using the prepaid card.

“We just want to get the word out and let people know the assistance is out there,” Turnage said.

The foundation plans to review all applications on a quarterly basis. Turnage said participants can reapply for the program to receive another gas card if they need more assistance.

“As long as we have funds we’ll be accepting applications,” Turnage said.

In order to raise funds for their programs, the foundation plans to host their annual breast cancer awareness fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 26 at The Barn at Sarah Bella. Tickets are currently available.

For more information about the application process or to purchase tickets, call Turnage at (601) 358-9535 or send an email to agturnage@highlandch.com.