News Blog
Posted By on November 8th, 2011 at 9:54 am | 0 comments.

2011 PA Breast Cancer Coalition ConferenceHARRISBURG, Pa. – “Pink Ribbon Stories: A Celebration of Life” (ISBN 978-0-9701379-7-5) by 10-year breast cancer survivor Tammy Miller offers hope and laughter from personal stories of battling breast cancer. Miller compiled over 120 entries from women and men whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.

Throughout her own diagnosis, Miller used her sense of humor on her journey. She went through her first breast cancer surgery wearing a clown nose and shoes while carrying a kazoo. For her second, she wore a pink feather boa. Miller’s sense of humor and optimism made her journey a memorable one for those around her.

Referencing “Pink Ribbon Stories,” Miller says “there are stories that will warm your heart; make you laugh; cause you to pause for reflection; and others that simply tell a story of a courageous journey through life. There are words and stories to encourage, inspire and make you smile. This book is one way I can show those who are battling breast cancer that they are not alone.”

“Pink Ribbon Stories: A Celebration of Life” is available online at http://pbcc.me/PinkRibbonStories or through your favorite e-reader’s store. Proceeds benefit the PA Breast Cancer Coalition.

About the Author:

Tammy Miller is an international speaker, author and speech coach. Her speaking topics include humor and healing, presentation and communication skills, brain aerobics, motivation and achieving goals. She is the owner of Tammy Speaks, LLC of Port Matilda, PA, and she enjoys helping others build their communication skills and achieve their goals in life. As an author, Tammy has written, “The Lighter Side of Breast Cancer Recovery,” about her personal journey of using humor to deal with her cancer diagnosis. And, “My Life is Just Speech Material… And, So is Yours,” is a valuable guide to discovering what to say and how to say it with your next presentation. She can be reached at www.tammyspeaks.com.

The PBCC represents, supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and breast cancer research grants. The PBCC is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure now…so our daughters won’t have to. For more information, please call 800-377-8828 or visit www.PABreastCancer.org.

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Media Contact: Kevin Smith
717-721-2580 x109
Kevin@PABreastCancer.org

Posted in: Grassroots Partners, Marketplace Store, News, Partnerships & Promotions, Pink Ribbon, Press Release
Tags: Awareness, breast cancer, donate, donation, fundraiser, men, mother, News, Partnership, resources, survivor, survivors, women
 
Posted By on October 11th, 2011 at 3:34 pm | 0 comments.

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The PA Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) gave an additional $100,000 research grant to Dr. Craig Meyers and his team at Penn State College of Medicine today. The announcement came at the 2011 PA Breast Cancer Coalition Conference held at the Hilton Harrisburg attended by over 1,000 people. This grant marks the single-largest research contribution made by the PBCC in its 18-year history and it follows a 2007 PBCC Pennsylvania Income Tax Refund for Research grant of $35,000 to Dr. Meyers.

Through this PBCC funded research, Dr. Meyers discovered that adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) kills breast cancer cells in every stage in the laboratory in tissue culture dishes. AAV2 is a nondisease-causing virus that kills human breast cancer cells and often infects humans. Preliminary research using AAV2 to treat breast cancer cells in a mouse model has also yielded promising results but needs further study.

“I’ve been working with this significant nondisease-causing virus that kills human breast cancer cells in the laboratory because we know that breast cancer has a complex structure and differing types,” said Dr. Craig Meyers, professor of microbiology and immunology at Penn State College of Medicine.

Referring to these exciting new findings as, “what, for decades, the medical community has worked towards and the rest of the world has been waiting for,” Pat Halpin-Murphy, president and founder of the PBCC said that her pioneering organization is thrilled to be part of Dr. Meyers’discovery of a virus that kills all stages and all types of breast cancer cells in the laboratory.

“Breast cancer survivors, their families, and all girls and women and those that care for them look forward to the final phase of this research–clinical trials with humans. While that final step may still be years away, it gives us hope that we will discover a cure so our daughters and granddaughters won’t have to. Dr. Meyers’ break-through is a real-world example that research is our best weapon in battling breast cancer,” added Halpin-Murphy.

Halpin-Murphy went on to say that “each day, 32 women in Pennsylvania are diagnosed with breast cancer and over 2,000 die every year from the devastating disease.”

“We are extremely grateful to the Coalition for their generous support of Dr. Meyers’ research,” said Richard J. Courtney, Ph.D., chair, Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Penn State College of Medicine. “The recent findings of his research group are very exciting; however, much additional research remains to be done. This grant will be instrumental in helping Dr. Meyers and his colleagues to further advance this highly promising breast cancer research ongoing within his laboratory.”

The PBCC established and oversees the Refunds for Breast Cancer Research program, which uses donations from Pennsylvanians to fund vital research grants across the state. State residents may contribute all or part of their state income tax refund to the Refunds for Research program to help find a cure. To date, Pennsylvanians have donated over $2.8 million with the average donation from taxpayers being $8. Thanks to the PBCC’s program, nearly 70 research grants have been awarded to outstanding Pennsylvania scientists.

The PBCC represents, supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and breast cancer research grants. The PBCC is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure now…so our daughters and granddaughters won’t have to. For more information, visit www.PABreastCancer.org or call 800-377-8828.

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Media Contact: Kevin Smith, 717-903-8783



Posted in: Annual Conference, Donation, Media, News, Press Release, Refunds for Breast Cancer Research
Tags: AAV2, Awareness, breast cancer, conference, daughters, doctor, doctors, donate, donation, Harrisburg, Media, News, research, researchers, survivor, survivors
 
Posted By on September 28th, 2011 at 3:17 pm | 0 comments.

2011 Pink Fountain Kick-OffHARRISBURG, Pa. A bright pink fountain will flow throughout October at the Pennsylvania State Capitol to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness month. The East Wing Fountain at the State Capitol in Harrisburg turned PINK on Wednesday, September 28th thanks to the First Lady Susan Corbett and PA Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC).

 The PA Breast Cancer Coalition was proud to join First Lady Susan Corbett, Sheri Phillips, Secretary of the PA Department of General Services, and Debbie Freer, PBCC Board Member and breast cancer survivor, in celebrating the start of this important month. The pink fountain serves as a breathtaking visual that underlines and signifies the critical importance of education, early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

“Almost all of us know someone whose life has been touched in some way by this disease,” said First Lady Susan Corbett. “My mother fought and won two rounds with breast cancer.  She’s 92 now and still ready to fight. I’m proud to be her daughter.  With new treatments, research and a simple will to survive; we can all take on the challenge of reducing breast cancer deaths and someday put an end to this disease.”

“As a staple at the State Capitol, this fountain is a reminder to all who pass by about the magnitude of breast cancer education. It serves as a tribute to the brave women throughout Pennsylvania who have fought or are fighting this dreadful disease,” said Pat Halpin-Murphy, PBCC President and Founder. “As October approaches, we are reminded that there are more than 140,000 breast cancer survivors alive today across Pennsylvania, and we must continue to promote our mission of finding a cure for breast cancer now…so our daughters won’t have to.”

Breast cancer continues to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the United States, regardless of race or ethnicity. Nearly all breast cancers can be treated successfully if found early. When breast cancer is found in its earliest stage, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent.

The PA Breast Cancer Coalition represents, supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and breast cancer research grants. The PBCC is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure now…so our daughters won’t have to. For more information, please call 800-377-8828 or visit www.PABreastCancer.org.

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Media Contact: Kevin Smith
717-721-2580 x109
Kevin@PABreastCancer.org

Posted in: Events, Media, News, Pink Ribbon, Press Release
Tags: Awareness, breast cancer, breast cancer awareness month, event, First Lady, Harrisburg, Media, News, survivor, survivors, Susan Corbett
 
Posted By on May 12th, 2011 at 8:14 am | 0 comments.

York County Photo Exhibit OpeningThe PA Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) is pleased to work with the Huntingdon County Exhibit Committee and J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital to bring its traveling photo exhibit 67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania, to Huntingdon County from May 12th through May 22nd.  The photo exhibit will be displayed in the Main Lobby of the J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital located at 1225 Warm Springs Avenue in Huntingdon.

An opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, May 12th at 5 p.m. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. The pink van and PBCC staff will be on hand to kick-off the 110th showing of the photo exhibit. This will be our first visit to Huntingdon County!

This work of art features women from each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, along with a message about how breast cancer has touched their lives.  The women reflect the diversity of Pennsylvania, and their stories reflect the impact of breast cancer on themselves, their families and their communities.  The exhibit encourages women to learn about early detection and celebrates life, courage, hope and dignity of women and families who have battled breast cancer.  67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania is sponsored by the PBCC and funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Pat Halpin-Murphy, President and Founder of the PBCC, encourages everyone to visit the exhibit.  “Breast cancer is not a rare event separate from the fabrics of our everyday lives.  It impacts our mothers, daughters and friends.  We must educate ourselves about this disease and fight to find a cure now…so our daughters won’t have to.”

“The Alliance for Breast Care (ABC) at J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital is honored to host the 67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania exhibit,” said Dr. Maria Pettinger, Medical Director of Radiology at J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital. “This opportunity is limited to a few locations in the Commonwealth each year. We want to encourage not only the residents of Huntingdon County to take advantage of this inspirational exhibit, but also the people from the surrounding counties to experience the strength and courage of those who have faced breast cancer.”

 

Posted in: Photo Exhibit, Pink Ribbon, Press Release, Programs
Tags: Awareness, daughters, diagnosis, doctor, doctors, free, hospital, Media, mother, News, resources, survivor, survivors, women
 
Posted By on May 4th, 2011 at 2:06 pm | 1 comment.

The movie Mystery; Alaska told the story of a hockey publicity stunt which brought the New York Rangers to a small rural town for an exhibition game. On May 14, hockey fans will get a taste of the NHL and Hollywood — when three stars from the movie “SLAP SHOT” return to Harrisburg to raise money for the PA Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC).

“Paint the Rink Pink” — featuring the Hanson Brothers is scheduled for Saturday, May 14 at 5 p.m. at Twin Ponds East on Corey Road in Harrisburg. The event will feature the original Hanson Brothers from the 1977 movie Slap Shot playing with the Red Robin Robin’s and Team Full Circle Copiers. The Hanson Brothers have already helped to raise over $41,000 for the PBCC. The trio will wear their famous Charlestown Chiefs uniforms — complete with their signature black glasses. The game will also feature the use of pink pucks and a pink themed arena. At the First Intermission, the Hanson’s will play in the En-Kay Sporting Goods Little Dudes Game — which will introduce area youth to old time hockey.

According to Rob Ziemba, Founder of “Play It Againfor Charity, “We have created our own Hanson Brothers Booster Club right here in Central PA. It’s been a lot of fun giving hockey fans the opportunity to meet three stars from the greatest sports movie ever! The Hanson’s are great with the fans and many fans return each year to see them. It’s going to be another fun exhibition hockey game for all.”

Tickets for the event are $5.00 each and it’s suggested be purchased in advance. Fans can order tickets by mail — by sending a check or money order — payable to: Play It Again for Charity, P.O. Box 272, Campbelltown, PA 17010. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Fans with paid admission will have the opportunity to meet and greet the Hanson Brothers in the lobby during the Third Period.  8 x 10 Hanson Brothers Photos will be available for $10.00 each and can be autographed for free.

Come join the fun on May 14th and enjoy the Hanson Brothers’ “on-and-off-ice” antics. There will be many hockey prize raffles, music, food and Puck Hog Hockey Pro Shop will offer specials on equipment. Interested fans can visit: www.slapshot2.org for more information.

Posted in: Grassroots Partners, Press Release
Tags: auction, Awareness, donation, fundraiser, Harrisburg, hockey, men, women
 
Posted By on March 22nd, 2011 at 11:31 am | 3 comments.

2011 Refunds for Research Check Presentation at the Hillman Cancer CenterPITTSBURGH, Pa. – The PA Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) has launched its annual Refunds for Research campaign to fund Pennsylvania cancer researchers. By simply checking YES on line 35 of the PA-40 tax form, any taxpayer can donate all or part of their state income tax refund to breast and cervical cancer research. Every penny contributed goes directly to PA breast and cervical cancer researchers as they work for a cure. By donating, the taxpayer will join the thousands of Pennsylvania tax filers who have contributed over $2.7 million for PA-based cancer research.

Through this program, the PA Breast Cancer Coalition is pleased to announce two recipients of research grants for 2011. Melanie Flint, Ph.D. and Steffi Oesterreich, Ph.D., both of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) and members of the Magee-Womens Research Institute, have been awarded $50,000 grants to assist in their research process.

“Thousands of donations of every size made by Pennsylvania residents make the Refunds for Research grants possible. The generosity of the people of this state for the program has been overwhelming,” said Pat Halpin-Murphy, President and Founder of the PBCC. “This simple and effective program, and the support of so many, reinforces our commitment to finding a cure for breast cancer now…so our daughters won’t have to.”

The PBCC worked with the state legislature to enact the Income Tax Check-Off for Breast & Cervical Cancer Research which is currently the most popular refund donation option in Pennsylvania. The funds raised through this initiative support the outstanding breast and cervical cancer researchers in our own backyard.

The PA Breast Cancer Coalition represents supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and breast cancer research grants. The PBCC is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure now…so our daughters won’t have to. For more information, please call 800-377-8828 or visit www.PABreastCancer.org.

Posted in: Press Release, Programs, Refunds for Breast Cancer Research
Tags: Awareness, doctor, doctors, Media, News, organizations, Pittsburgh, research, women