To the breastmobile!

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by George Maddux

Starting this fall, a squad of determined individuals will tour backwater Quebec towns in a bus, aiming to scrutinize, examine and study women's breasts. And no, it's not a junior hockey team. The breastmobile, or Clara, as the $1.6-million vehicle will be known, will be loaded up with state-of-the-art machinery, operated by qualified and trained medical professionals who will tour the province looking for people in remote regions to offer free mammograms to detect breast cancer.

Credit local bailiff Jean-Marc Paquette who, for six tireless years, worked to persuade corporate Quebec to pitch in for the project, which he accomplished far from the government teat. GM, Pratt & Whitney and seven other corporations pitched in to purchase the 45-foot Voyageur-type bus from Prevostcar. Media representative Sylvie Parayre for the Clara project was shy on details prior to the official launch but an unrelenting interrogation by the Mirror has uncovered the fact that the bus is, as we speak, sitting in a big bus depot at 7770 St-Patrick in LaSalle. It's waiting for provincial Health Minister Remy Trudel, who will take much credit during the unveiling on Friday. The Health Ministry will be organizing the tour stops for the bus. Regions to be prioritized, according to Parayne, will be determined where patients "either have limited access or are stuck on a long waiting list." Just so nobody will feel too left out, chest X-rays will also be performed on board.