Safeway funds Seattle mammography van

PLEASANTON, Calif. Safeway Inc. today announced that it has joined the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance to promote breast cancer awareness by donating $1 million to fund a mobile mammography van at one of the company's Seattle store in University Village.

The mobile screening vehicle is a 40-foot, self-contained clinic with the digital screening technology recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration to detect breast cancer more effectively than the traditional mammography screening. In addition to the $800,000 cost of the van Safeway chairman, president and chief executive Steve Burd, who attended the dedication ceremony, presented an additional $200,000 check from The Safeway Foundation to fund the van's first two years of operation. The new mobile unit will be operated by the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in partnership with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.