Komen for the Cure has a long and rich history in public policy advocacy that spans more than 20 years. In order to achieve our promise of ending breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures, Komen believes that scientific progress must be complemented by sound public policy. In this regard, Komen works to influence public policy-makers at the federal, state and local levels to increase public investment in quality breast health and breast cancer care.

As part of Komen's advocacy efforts, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has established Komen Champions for the Cure™, a structured grassroots program designed to educate Congress, the President and other policy-makers about breast cancer through community involvement. 

Komen Champions for the Cure™ was inspired by the tens of thousands of Komen volunteers across the country (more than 100 Affiliates in 47 states) working in their local communities with policy-makers and other community leaders, and with their state health departments. Susan G. Komen for the Cure recognized that the first-hand experience of the Komen Affiliate Network was an important perspective to provide to policy-makers about local needs that impact real people.

An important component of Komen Champions for the Cure™ is the new interactive Web site, www.ActNowEndBreastCancer.org. This virtual advocacy forum offers every American the opportunity to influence the federal government on crucial breast cancer issues by contacting their Members of Congress. Anyone can take action and become a Komen eChampion. United, we can make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.

Click here to take action and become an eChampion for the Cure!

Komen Community Challenge

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is taking its special brand of pink ribbon activism on the road in a powerful grassroots effort to “Close the Gap” in access to quality health care, research and information. Over the next 25 years, five million Americans could be diagnosed with breast cancer – and because there are gaps in our system, this diagnosis will be deadlier for some than for others. That's wrong.

So as we mark our 25th year, 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 29th in the nation in the incidence of breast cancer; yet, we have the fourth highest breast cancer mortality rate in the United States? That number is hard to fathom.

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.

But there's good news: the Ohio legislature recently allocated $5 million in the state's budget proposal for the Ohio Breast and Cervical Cancer Project. Help us say "thank you" - and move the conversation forward - by joining in a call to "Close the Gap"!

On Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, policymakers, advocates, healthcare professionals and survivors held a panel discussion and luncheon to discuss recent policy successes and what we need to do in the upcoming year to continue our work to "Close the Gap" in access to care in Ohio. Too many Ohio women are not getting the breast health care and treatment services they need - services that could save their lives - because of access and funding gaps in our healthcare system.

Heather Pick, 10TV Anchor, moderated the panel and we heard from speakers like State Representative Joyce Beatty, Dr. Alvin Jackson, Director of the Ohio Department of Health, as well as others who span the health care continuum. Survivors and activists gathered to thank legislators for funding the Ohio Breast and Cervical Cancer Project and to discuss the next steps in closing the health care gap in Ohio.

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, then become a Komen Champions for the Cure™.