Sentara Martha Jefferson HealthWise: Events Supporting Women’s Health


October 5, 2022 | By Kathryn Young

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) — Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital is holding events in the coming weeks to raise money for women’s health initiatives.

The Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation hosts events throughout the year, but October events honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This October, the annual Martha’s Market will be taking place next weekend, and Dairy Market will be going pink for the first time.

“We pride ourselves on being the community hospital and finding ways for the community to get involved with the hospital, and this is a really special time of year,” said Kimberly Skelly, the president of the MJH Foundation. “Fall is our busiest fundraising season.”

All month long, there will be opportunities to support the foundation through events, donations, writing messages on pink ribbons in honor or memory of a loved one, and specials at Dairy Market merchants.

“There will be opportunities for patrons to purchase pink items from different shops and restaurants at the Dairy Market, and a percentage of those proceeds will be contributed back to the hospital foundation,” said Skelly. “We will be offering cooking classes, and a walking club, as well as free yoga at the Dairy Market during the month of October, so again we just want people to really think about their health and learn how to live their healthiest life as well as have opportunities to support the foundation and Martha Jefferson Hospital.”

On Oct. 15, Martha’s Market will be held at IX Art Park and various stores in the downtown area.

“We’ll have almost 50 vendors setting up shop in collaboration with the Farmer’s Market at IX, and then Downtown merchants will also be participating,” added Skelly. “So we encourage the community to come out and shop with a purpose on Oct. 15.”

This will be the second year that Martha’s Market will take place at IX.

“Last year was our first year at the IX Art Park,” Skelly said. “We’re delighted to be going back to the IX Art Park for Martha’s Market. We had more than 5,000 people come through last year and we’re really excited to be returning to IX again this year.”

There will also be other opportunities to support women’s health care needs around the Charlottesville area.

“We are counting on this beautiful fall weather to provide us a nice canopy for all these activities,” said Skelly.

For more information on upcoming events, click here.