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Former
PA First Lady Michele Ridge to "pass the
gavel" to new First Lady Kathy Schweiker
(Ephrata,
PA) -- Former First Lady Michele Ridge is "passing
the gavel" as Honorary Chair of the Pennsylvania
Breast Cancer Coalition to the state's new
First Lady Kathy Schweiker. The
formal transition is set to take place as part
of the Pink
Ribbon Awards Luncheon at noon at the PBCC's
Keystone Breast Cancer Conference Thursday
October 18, 2001 at the Harrisburg Hilton. "Over
the past seven years, there have been a lot
of important victories in the fight against
breast cancer and in our efforts to support
women living with this disease in our Commonwealth," said
Mrs. Ridge. "The
PBCC has offered strong support to the
Ridge administration and shared in our
successes.
It has been wonderful to work with such
dedicated advocates for these women and
their families." The
PBCC's mission to "find a cure for breast cancer now.so our daughters won't have to," is
especially poignant for Mrs. Schweiker who
is the mother of three school age children
including a young daughter who has participated
in many PBCC activities. Mrs.
Schweiker said , "As the new Honorary
Chair of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer
Coalition," "I
will continue to give breast cancer survivors
across the Commonwealth a voice through the
PBCC's innovative statewide grassroots
education, outreach, research and advocacy
efforts." Pat
Halpin-Murphy, PBCC President and Founder said, "We
are honoring Former First Lady Michele Ridge
for her many years of service with a special
tribute at this year's Keystone Breast
Cancer Conference. It is especially meaningful
that
we are also able to welcome First Lady
Kathy Schweiker as our new Honorary Chair.
Her
positive attitude, knowledge and enthusiasm
are a winning combination as we continue
the First Lady Legacy to reach women
and their families with the Pennsylvania
Breast Cancer Coalition's vital life-saving
message."
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
organization 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, Friends
Like Me, and 67 Women, 67 Counties:
Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania. For
more information about the PBCC visit our
website at www.pabreastcancer.org or call
717/738-9567 or toll free 1-800-377-8828. |
