(Ephrata, PA) The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition today reminds late tax filers to make their mark by donating their state tax refund to breast and cervical cancer research. In 1997, legislation initiated by the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, and signed by Governor Tom Ridge established an income tax check off provision allowing Pennsylvanians to donate their state tax refund to breast and cervical cancer research. In its first two years the program raised more than a half million dollars.

One hundred percent of the money raised is presented as grants to researchers across the state. To date, seventeen researchers have benefited from the PBCC's Income Tax Check Off. The grants are referred to as 'bridge' funding. They allow researchers to continue their work to achieve additional results, making them eligible for separate major funding sources for larger grants.

Funds are administered through the Cancer Advisory Board of the PA Department of Health. Pat Halpin-Murphy serves as co-Chair of the Board's "Income Tax Check Off" committee for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research, "It is exciting to know taxpayers in the Commonwealth support this program so deeply," said Halpin-Murphy. So much promising research is taking place in Pennsylvania. It is only through efforts like this that we will be able to fund this research and reach our goal of finding a cure now... so our daughters won't have to."

The Income Tax Check Off for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research continues to be the favorite among state taxpayers. This year more than 30,000 Pennsylvanians donated their state tax refunds to breast and cervical cancer research, with an average donation of 8 dollars.

The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, founded in 1993, is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer and improving the quality of breast cancer education, treatment and research in the state. For more information call 1-800-377-8828 or e-mail kim@pabreastcancer.org.