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| Legislative Alert |
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The Breast Cancer and Environment Research Bill has had little movement. It is still in the Energy & Commerce Committee, despite the indisputably positive outcome of the hearing. It also remains in a holding pattern in the Senate. Despite this members of congress have continued to sign on. The number of cosponsors has risen to 277.
This summer we urge you to let those members of congress that have not signed on to do so. In PA they are:
PA also has several representatives on the E & C Committee. Please, ask them to urge Rep. Dingell, the Chair to finally bring this bill to a vote.
We are also making a plea for you to reach out to family and friends that live in Michigan to contact
and make the same request. |
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If you know anyone in Oklahoma please, urge them to contact
He needs to hear how important this bill really is.
The DoD BCRP is still in Appropriations. We hope to report movement on that in our September issue.
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The Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition is involved in a pilot program to recruit participants for one particular prevention trial that the
Helen F. Graham Cancer Center is part of, and to increase overall awareness
at the same time.
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The Breast Cancer and Environment Research Centers (BCERC) is a seven-year project jointly funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Cancer Institute. The centers are studying the impact of prenatal-to-adult environmental exposures that may predispose a woman to breast cancer.
Please join us for the 5th annual BCERC Symposium
November 13-14 2008
Birmingham, AL
Some scholarships are available for advocates!
Click here for more information!____________
Make a difference by convincing your workplace to participate in
Your donation will go to the National Breast Cancer Coalition, which provides training and education for advocates searching for ways to make a difference.
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Thank you again for all that you do.
until next time....
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Congress is heading home for the rest of the summer and we will be visiting many of the members at their local offices to thank them. Some of them are receiving awards for their outstanding contributions. We are fortunate in Pennsylvania to have overwhelming support from both senators and many of our members of congress.
This month's advocate is awe-inspiring. All of our advocates are, but Jeanine has managed to touch everyone she meets. I know you will feel the same way about her that we do.
As you will see in our Legislative Update, we are again asking for your phone calls or emails. Many thanks in advance; we truly wish we could come to your local offices and thank you all face to face.
Have a wonderful August ! |
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Patrick Murphy |
The first ACE award was presented to Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-08) in his Doylestown office.
The ACE Award is so named because it represents Actions, Commitment and Efforts toward the ongoing fight to eradicate breast cancer.
Since he took office in January 2007, Congressman Patrick Murphy has shown his commitment by wholeheartedly supporting substantive breast cancer legislation, such as the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program and the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act, H.R. 1157. Congressman Patrick Murphy has taken action by signing on to these bills and by his work to educate other members of Congress about the importance of these research programs. His leadership efforts have gone above the average in that he has spoken out on the floor of the House about the importance of getting these bills put into law.
The photo above: back row l to r, Ali Delapine, Deanna Gleeson, Michelle Esser, Kristy Pugh, Rep. Murphy, Nancy Sauers, Mel Delapine. Front row, Nathan Esser, Brooke Delapine, Elizabeth Sauers, Lauren Sauers |
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Jeanine Donahue |
Accepting a diagnosis of Breast Cancer is never easy, but receiving a diagnosis of Inflammatory Breast Cancer at age 26 is devastating. Having your life altered from a carefully planned career track to one filled with treatments, surgeries, and fear at such an early age is truly beyond my comprehension. Jeanine's reaction to all of this has been quite amazing.
She describes herself as a Type A personality or "control freak," seeking knowledge to reclaim some control in her life. My description of her is a bit different. I see her as an energetic, extremely bright and mature young woman. At this year's Lobby Day, Jeanine shared her experiences at our most challenging legislator meetings and never failed to get a response. She was able to articulately portray her circumstances, providing for many of them a portrait of this disease they had never envisioned. I asked her why she chose to become involved in advocacy.
I was an average 26 year old woman. I was motivated and ambitious when it came to my career. I had many friends and attended many social activities. I thought I was entering the prime of my life. In April of 2007, my world as I knew it, turned upside down when I was told that I had Inflammatory Breast Cancer. All of a sudden I became a statistic. No one told me this could happen to me. Breast cancer happens to women after menopause. I was too young to have breast cancer, but I did. It still amazes me how four words can shatter a person's world, everything they have known, everything they are, can be completely altered by, "You have breast cancer."
From the very beginning, I was determined to not allow cancer to destroy "me" - my soul and inner spirit. I knew that I would not go through all of this in vain; good would come from my experience. People always tell me how strong I am and how they couldn't do what I do. My response is always the same. You never realize what you are truly capable of until you are faced with real adversity.
I am a person living with cancer, and until the day I die, I will be a person living with cancer. My fight does not end when the drugs stop flowing, or the surgeries cease. I will fight this disease until it is no more, because no one should have to endure a life with cancer. Through my experience with cancer advocacy I have met the most amazing people, experienced things I would have never experienced before diagnosis, and learned a great deal about myself and the type of person I want to be. Cancer took away my control. It is not a person you can argue or reason with, it doesn't have a face. Becoming an advocate is my way of taking back control of my life. It is also a means of justice. Justice towards a disease that doesn't discriminate, or negotiate and is relentless. Well I am relentless too, and if I can save one person from going through what I am going through, it is worth it.
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If you live in or near the Delaware Valley, please join us for a fun event and support the Linda Creed Foundation
Paws for the Cause
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