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HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pat Halpin-Murphy, President and Founder of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, was chosen by the readers of Harrisburg Magazine as Role Model for their 2006 Simply the Best issue.
Ms. Halpin-Murphy was chosen for this award based on write-in submissions of Harrisburg Magazine subscribers and readers for her work with the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. This year, Halpin-Murphy worked diligently with the Pennsylvania legislature and the Governor to enact the Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Screening Act, which provides for free mammograms for eligible uninsured and underinsured women 40 to 49. This Act provides women with access to free mammograms a full 10 years earlier than the former program allowed.
A breast cancer survivor, Halpin-Murphy founded the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition in 1993 to help in the search for a cure and to serve as a voice for breast cancer survivors in the state. Since founding the Coalition, she has led numerous state-wide efforts in the fight against breast cancer – convening a bipartisan coalition of state legislators to establish the Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Fund and the Income Tax Check Off option for Pennsylvanians to donate a portion of their state income tax refund to cancer research. Halpin-Murphy has also fought hard for groundbreaking legislation requiring insurance companies in Pennsylvania to cover costs of reconstructive breast surgery and post surgical hospital stays.
“Few people have dedicated themselves as much to change scores of lives for the better more than Pat has. She is a true Pennsylvania role model,” said Governor Rendell.
“It is no surprise to me that Pat was selected as Harrisburg Magazine's Readers Choice for Role Model. She is unwavering in her commitment to finding a cure for breast cancer, relentless about spreading the PBCC's message everywhere she goes, and puts the needs of survivors first in everything she does. I've worked with Pat for eleven years and couldn't ask for a better leader and role model,” said Heather Hibshman, PBCC Executive Director.
The PA Breast Cancer Coalition represents, supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and unique outreach initiatives. The PBCC is a statewide non-profit organization that creates the hope of a brighter tomorrow by providing action and information to women with breast cancer today. For more information on the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition call 1-800-377-8828 or visit the website www.pabreastcancer.org.
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