Artist completes Breast Cancer Awareness mural

RAPID CITY, S.D., (Oct. 11, 2019) — Artist Delaena Uses Knife’s mural in downtown Rapid City’s Art Alley is a tribute to October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to her Native American heritage – and to her own perseverance.

Delaena had to overcome bad weather and a discouraging act of vandalism to complete the mural. On Oct. 1, when the project was more than half done, someone painted over a large portion of the mural with graffiti. With help from her family and Monument Health volunteers, Delaena covered over the graffiti and completed the 10-foot by 14-foot painting this week.

She was one of four finalists for the Monument Health-sponsored Breast Cancer Awareness mural competition. Monument Health hopes the mural will offer hope and strength for patients and survivors. The prize was $500 plus up to $150 for supplies. Delaena’s submission was selected by Facebook users who voted with their Likes.

Here’s how Delaena described her design: “Lakota Sioux woman (with) ‘strength’ to continue and pursue life. The white buffalo (is) symbolic for prayer and cloud of witnesses.”​

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. It’s the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death in women.

About Monument Health
Headquartered in Rapid City, S.D., Monument Health is a community-based health care system with a mission to make a difference, every day. Monument Health offers care in 33 medical specialties and serves 20 communities across western South Dakota and in eastern Wyoming. With over 4,500 physicians and caregivers, Monument Health is comprised of 5 hospitals, 8 specialty and surgical centers and more than 40 medical clinics and health care service centers.

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CONTACT:
Dan Daly
Communications Specialist
Strategic Marketing and Communications
Monument Health
605-755-9178
ddaly@monument.health