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Komen Community Challenge
This is the war on breast cancer!
The Komen Community Challenge is hitting 25 cities, reaching tens of thousands of people at town hall meetings, roundtables, lobby days, and summits. We’re rallying to make breast cancer a national priority, to help “Close the Gap” in funding that keeps thousands of women from receiving life-saving breast cancer care. In order to do this, we extend the Challenge to draw 25 million new people into the fold. We must - because in the next 25 years, 25 million people worldwide could be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Did you know Ohio ranks 24th in the nation in the incidence of breast cancer; yet, we have the 4th highest breast cancer mortality rate in the United States?
• The Challenge: Until just this year, the Ohio state screening program only received federal funding and did not receive any state dollars. Due to lack of funding, the Ohio Breast and Cervical Cancer Project screened fewer than 10,000 - only 10 percent - of the uninsured or underinsured women eligible for the program.
• The Progress: The Ohio legislature recently allocated $5 million in the state budget for the Ohio Breast and Cervical Cancer Project. These crucial funds will supplement federal dollars.
The Komen Community Challenge came to Ohio in January. Held in Columbus, the day began with a visit and tour of Komen-funded breast health programs at Riverside Methodist Hospital. Dr. Thomas Sweeney, OhioHealth Second Opinion Clinic received the 2007 Community Service Award and State Senator Tom Niehaus was recognized for his support of Ohio’s breast screening funding .
The atrium of state capitol was the setting for a panel discussion and luncheon attended by Ohio legislators, state health officials, Komen advocates and survivors. Discussion included recent policy successes and next steps to continue our work to "Close the Gap" in access to care in Ohio. Panelists included Dr. Alvin Jackson, Ohio Department of Health; Stefanie Spielman, Breast Cancer Survivor and founder of the Stefanie Spielman Fund; Dr. Jean Stevenson, Surgeon, Cleveland MetroHealth Cancer Care Center; Helen Jones-Kelley, Ohio epartment of Jobs and Family Services; Matt Moore, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Senior Policy Advisor; Rep. Joyce Beatty, Ohio House Minority Leader; and Lee Halarewicz, Komen Northeast Ohio Breast cancer survivor and advocate.
Read Lee’s testimony
The day concluded with an afternoon reception hosted by First Lady Frances Strickland at the Governor’s residence. The program there included remarks from First Lady Strickland and a short presentation by Dr. James Basilion, a Cleveland Clinic researcher and Komen grantee who spoke about his work in screening advancements.
Come One. Come All. We are the face and voice of the global movement. As local activists and global citizens we will mobilize millions to put an end to this dreaded disease – forever.
If you believe that surviving breast cancer shouldn't depend on who you are or where you live and that all Ohio women deserve access to quality health care that could save their lives, become a Komen Champions for the Cure™
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