(Harrisburg) At 3:30pm this afternoon (October 1, 1999) the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition will join Senator Arlen Specter to kick-off Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The event will take place at Central Pennsylvania Hematology and Medical Oncology Associates at 50 North 12th Street in Lemoyne, PA.

During the meeting, Pat Halpin-Murphy, President and Founder of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition will present Senator Specter with the organization's Pink Ribbon Award. The award is presented for outstanding legislative leadership in breast cancer research, education and advocacy. "Through his legislative leadership and strong support of breast cancer research funding, Senator Specter has spared many women and their families needless tragedy. His efforts have moved us closer to finding a cure for breast cancer now, so our daughters won't have to" said Ms. Halpin-Murphy.

Larry Wickerham, MD, Protocol Officer for the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) will also attend today's meeting. NSABP is conducting the STAR Trials, a breast cancer prevention trial that is comparing the effectiveness of the drugs Tamoxifen and Raloxifene for women at high risk of developing breast cancer. STAR receives financial support from the National Institutes for Health (NIH) which Senator Specter's legislative efforts have benefited. PBCC President and Founder Pat Halpin-Murphy sits on the board of NSABP as an advocate for breast cancer survivors. Central Pennsylvania Hematology and Medical Oncology Associates is one of forty sites in the state of Pennsylvania participating in the STAR Trials.

Members of the Media are encouraged to attend.