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COLUMBIA - Pink Pursuit hosts the third annual fundraising event for providing mammograms at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. Nine local restaurants sponsor the fundraising. Events include a trivia contest, dance party and silent auction.

Event organizer Liz Schulte is not a breast cancer survivor herself, but her mother, grandma and aunt on both sides of her family have breast cancer. Five years ago, one of her friends passed away from breast cancer. Schulte was inspired to start Pink Pursuit fundraising. "I will always continue to fight to do what I can, so no one else has to have that type of ending to their breast cancer diagnosis," Schulte said.

During the first two years, Schulte's Pink Pursuit has raised about $3,000. This year, her goal is to raise $5,000.

Paul Dale, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center surgical ontology, said mammography can diagnose a tumor that is as small as a pea. Dale said when tumors are diagnosed at stage 0, cancer cannot spread. "If every woman was identified at stage 0, we would kill breast cancer," Dale said. "Almost 100% of time those (tumors at stage 0) are found by mammography. Those cancer are too early for Dr. Dale to feel, or the patient to feel. Mammography identifies those tumors."

Dale recommended women to get mammography screening every year after the age of 40, and even earlier for those who have family history of breast cancer.