Aspen and Denver affiliates of Komen to merge

The Aspen and Denver affiliates of the Susan G. Komen foundation are merging.

The result will be Susan G. Komen Colorado, with offices in Denver and Aspen, according to a statement issued Monday.

The merger will “ensure continued Komen presence to help women and men access breast cancer education, screening, treatment and support services,” the statement says. “Additionally, the merger will result in efficiency of operations and reduction in operating costs.”

Komen Colorado will serve the counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Eagle, Garfield, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Park, Phillips, Pitkin, Sedgwick, Summit, Washington, Weld and Yuma.

“We are pleased the merger will allow us to offer the additional resource of treatment dollars in Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin Counties in 2015. It is because of the cost savings due to the merger that we can offer this life-saving service to underserved women and men in the community,” said Michele Ostrander, CEO of Susan G. Komen Colorado.

Komen Colorado will continue funding breast-cancer research through the Komen Award and Research Grant Program, the statement says. Since its inception, Komen Colorado has raised and distributed nearly $14 million. Researchers in Colorado have received nearly $8.8 million to fund their breast-cancer investigations.

Sandy Israel, founder of Komen Aspen Affiliate, said, “By bringing together both organizations, Komen Colorado will be able to save more lives in our state. Both Susan G. Komen Affiliates share a strong commitment to support Colorado and provide help to uninsured or under-insured people battling breast cancer. We are very excited with the merger.”