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(Ephrata, PA) First Lady Kathy Schweiker, Honorary
Chair of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition,
announced that the Breast and Cervical Cancer
Research Fund Income Tax Check-off has reached
the $1million dollar mark. “I’m pleased
to announce that thanks to the generosity of Pennsylvania
taxpayers we’ve topped that $1 million mark
in funds raised from the Income Tax Check-off
for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research,”
Mrs. Schweiker said. “This means that even
more important research can be conducted by Pennsylvania
researchers in search of a cure.”
Landmark legislation initiated by the Pennsylvania
Breast Cancer Coalition in 1997, and signed by
then-Governor Tom Ridge, established the Breast
and Cervical Cancer Research Fund, which allows
Pennsylvania taxpayers to donate all or part of
their state tax refund to research.
All of the money raised through the check-off
is awarded to Pennsylvania researchers working
on breast and cervical cancer research. PBCC President
and Founder Pat Halpin-Murphy, a breast cancer
survivor, said, “Every single penny goes
directly to cancer research, and every one of
the researchers who receives funds is doing his
or her work at major research centers right here
in Pennsylvania. The incredible success of this
simple and effective way to raise research dollars
renews our commitment to find a cure for breast
cancer now…so our daughters won’t
have to.”
Although the 2001 tax-return numbers are not
complete, the records show that so far over 16,000
Pennsylvanians have donated to this cause. The
fund was established in 1997 and since that time
the amount raised totals $1,034,721.77, with an
average donation of $8.00.
On April 3, the First Lady, together with the
Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and the Department
of Health, awarded grants of $209,865 to five
Pennsylvania cancer researchers. They are:
Per Basse, MD, PhD
University of Pittsburgh
“Treatment
of Dormant Breast Cancer Metastases”
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Lewis Chodosh, MD, PhD
University of Pennsylvania
“Specific
Effects of K-Ras in the Pathogenesis of Breast
Cancer”
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Hildegund Ertl, MD
Wistar Institute
“Vaccine Prevention
of HPV-16 Associated Cancer” |
Carol Gay, PhD
Pennsylvania State University
“Specificity
of Breast Cancer Cells for Bone”
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Susan Lanza-Jacoby, PhD
Thomas Jefferson University
“Cyclooxygenase
Regulation of Angioge
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The PBCC, founded in 1993, is a non-profit
organization dedicated to ending the breast cancer
epidemic through research, education, outreach,
and advocacy. As the only statewide grassroots
organizations that speaks to and for breast cancer
survivors, the PBCC insured the passage of two
crucial pieces of Commonwealth legislation: The
Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Act, which
allows taxpayers to donate all or part of their
state income tax refunds to breast and cervical
cancer research; and-The Breast Cancer Reconstructive
surgery Act, which mandates insurance coverage
for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction and
prohibits outpatient mastectomies.
The PBCC serves each of the Commonwealth's
67 counties through the income Tax Check-Off,
Mother's Day Mammograms®, the Keystone Breast
Cancer Conference, and the photo exhibit, "67
Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania."
For more information about the PBCC visit www.pabreastcancer.org
or call 717/738-9567 or toll free 1-800-377-8828.
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