WC Missouri News

Western Missouri Medical Center (WMMC) held its 13th Annual Ladies’ Night Out event on October 16, 2025, at the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg, Missouri. The event was organized as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and aimed to promote breast health awareness and encourage women to schedule annual mammograms.

A total of 840 tickets were sold for the event, with 783 people attending. During the evening, 158 mammograms were scheduled. The gathering included activities, guest speakers, and prizes designed to raise awareness about early detection of breast cancer.

John McRoy served as emcee for the night. Suzanne Brown was the featured speaker. Brown shared her personal experience after moving to Warrensburg in July 2023 and discovering a lump in her breast two weeks later at age 41. She said she was encouraged by her daughter to get a mammogram at WMMC and was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer shortly after. Her treatment involved "16 rounds of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and a hysterectomy." Genetic testing revealed she had the BRCA1 mutation, which led to reconstructive surgery.

Brown is now in remission and uses her story to advocate for early detection: "One important message for women in our community: you don’t need a physician referral to schedule a screening mammogram—don’t delay!" She has also been nominated as an Honorary Survivor Model for the 2025 Bra Couture KC event.

Tara Carlyle, Strategy & Development Executive at WMMC, commented on the significance of the occasion: “We are incredibly grateful for the support that allows our Annual Ladies’ Night Out event to flourish,” Carlyle said. “It’s remarkable to see how this event has grown from a small gathering of fewer than 20 people to a gymnasium filled with nearly 800 attendees. The success of this event, including the scheduling of 158 mammograms, reflects the dedication of our volunteers, staff, sponsors, and community members. Together, we are making a meaningful impact on breast health awareness and early detection.”

Attendees received various perks such as swag bags and t-shirts. Prizes were awarded both to survivors and general participants. There was also a raffle featuring a handmade quilt created by Mary Bahner—a breast cancer survivor—with proceeds supporting WMMC’s Empower Through Early Detection campaign that aims to expand access to advanced screening technology.

Women who scheduled their mammogram during Ladies’ Night Out were automatically entered into prize drawings totaling $2,000 from an anonymous donor.

Darinda Dick, President/CEO of WMMC stated: “Ladies’ Night Out has become a cornerstone event for our community, and its impact grows each year,” Dick said. “This event empowers women to prioritize their health and strengthens our mission to provide accessible, high-quality care. Seeing hundreds of women take proactive steps toward early detection is truly inspiring.”

The event received sponsorships from local businesses including F&C Bank; Central Bank; Jonna D. Albert Accounting & Tax LLC; The Change Jar; State Representative Brandon Phelps; Joe Good – State Farm; Lotspeich Automotive; Truman Title Inc.; PrintLynx; Community National Bank & Trust; Keith & Wendy Buzzanga; and Fox Heating and Cooling.

According to national statistics cited by WMMC staff during the program presentation portion of the evening (one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer), efforts continue locally through initiatives like Empower Through Early Detection—an $880,000 project aiming at acquiring new diagnostic equipment such as two additional 3D Mammography Machines (including one capable of performing biopsies) plus specialized ultrasound devices designed for greater comfort during screenings (learn more at wmmc.com/Empower).

WMMC encourages all women—even those without provider referrals—to schedule their annual mammograms by calling its Centralized Scheduling Department at (660) 262-7370.

Western Missouri Medical Center is an accredited acute care facility offering emergency services along with other inpatient/outpatient specialties serving Warrensburg-area residents.