This educational work of art features at least one woman from each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, along with a message about how breast cancer has touched her life. 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 the dignity of women and families that 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.

An opening reception kicks off the display on Thursday, February 26 starting at 6:00 pm in the Berks Hall Main Lobby at RACC. The reception will feature guest speakers, including:

• Pat Halpin-Murphy, PBCC President & Founder
• Richard Kratz, President, Reading Area Community College
• Patricia Lee Langiotti, Chairman, Berks County Chamber of Commerce
• Michael T. Brown, MD, FACS, Cancer Committee Chairman, Reading Hospital Regional Cancer Center
• Ieana Torres Young, Program Coordinator, Hispanic Center of Reading and Berks
• Linda Lias, Local Breast Cancer Survivor
• Melanie Zeigler, Cancer Prevention Coordinator, Southeast District, Pennsylvania Department of Health

Donors for the opening reception include: Alebrije Mexican Restaurant, Caron’s Place, Carvel Ice Cream Bakery, Clover Farms, Giant Food Stores, GlaxoSmithKline Oncology, The Greek Shop, Havana Budda, Havana Joe’s Cuban Café, Judy’s On Cherry, Konepelski Catering, Krystyna’s Kitchen, Massimo Italian, Redner’s Markets, Inc., Roche Pharmaceuticals, Sam’s Club, Senor Taco, Suburban Tavern Restaurant, Sweet Bay Café, The Ugly Oyster, Unique Pretzel Bakery Inc. and Wyomissing Family Restaurant.

To RSVP for the opening reception call the PBCC at 1-800-377-8828, extension 303. The reception and the exhibit are free and open to the public.

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

The PBCC, founded in 1993, is a non-profit organization and the only statewide grassroots organization that speaks to and for breast cancer survivors. This year, more than 12,000 Pennsylvania women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. More than 2,300 will lose their lives to the disease. The PBCC’s mission is to find a cure for breast cancer and to improve the quality of breast cancer education, research and outreach in the state.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition or “67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania” call 1-800-377-8828 or visit the website www.pabreastcancer.org.