Cities Promote 1999 National Breast Cancer Awareness Month City Proclamations Issued in Support of 1999 National Event

By Carol Moody Becker

Cities across the country are extensively promoting 1999 National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) through activities that range from proclamations to public policy pronouncements. In recent years, this annual promotional event has been greatly expanded upon by The Mayors' Campaign Against Breast Cancer, an enterprise launched by USCM in November 1997 to address the disease as a major public health problem. Supported by a five-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Campaign's goal is to save lives through the early detection of breast cancer, and 280 mayors have signed on to this initiative.

CDC supports free mammography for women meeting its eligibility requirements that relate to age, income, and health insurance status. Therefore, low-income women over fifty are given special encouragement through the Campaign to seek screening, with specific outreach to members of racial and ethnic minorities that are traditionally underserved.  CDC has provided more than 2 million screenings since 1991 through its National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and looks to increase this number with the support of the mayors.

The following preliminary account of 1999 NBCAM local activities demonstrates the commitment of the mayors to increasing breast cancer awareness and screening in their respective communities. Many followed the USCM's suggestion that access to mammography be given to city employees -- with special encouragement for those over forty -- and that city employees be asked to serve as ambassadors for mammography outreach to their friends and families. More local activities will be reported upon in subsequent issues of U.S. MAYOR.

Richmond, CA -- Mayor Rosemary Corbin -- Support for African American Women's Event

Mayor Corbin supported the African American breast cancer survivors' calendar, presented at an event coordinated by the Breast and Cervical Cancer Information Service. The mayor's involvement in this ceremony is part of her overall promotion of Richmond's breast cancer awareness campaign that has the potential of reaching 160,000 persons through the local television station.

Rohnert Park, CA -- Mayor Jim Reilly -- Public Service Announcements

In addition to posting his NBCAM proclamation throughout the city, the mayor promoted breast cancer awareness through televised public service announcements.

Manchester, CT -- Mayor Stephen T. Cassano -- Free Mammograms for the Underserved

Under the mayor's leadership, for the past three years the Town of Manchester has allocated funds for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured Manchester women to receive free mammograms year round. The mayor's initiative has also resulted in additional funds from the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Connecticut State Department of Public Health to support outreach through the town's Neighbor to Neighbor program. Moreover, town employees were involved in breast cancer awareness, donating $5 for a pink ribbon pin to wear throughout the month of October with the proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Fund.

New Britain, CT -- Mayor Lucian J. Pawlak -- Wreath Ceremony for Public Awareness

The mayor hung New Britain's pink ribbon wreath from the balcony of city hall and issued a NBCAM proclamation during a public ceremony that Lt. Governor Jodi Rell and other officials attended. This event was one of the many ways that the city supports breast cancer awareness throughout the year. This spring New Britain again hosted the Connecticut Race for the Cure, the national fund-raiser of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. As in the past, participants numbered in the thousands -- drawing residents from Connecticut as well as surrounding states. Held in Walnut Hill Park, the event included refreshments, booths, and gift bags, all courtesy of the business community. Several elected officials were present, including Governor John Rowland and his wife, Patricia, who served as an honorary Race for the Cure Co-Chair.

Walnut Hill Park is also the site of "Walk for Life," a lovely brick breast cancer memorial. The walk is lined with beautiful wooden benches, purchased in honor or in memory of someone whose life has been affected by this disease. Moneys generated from these purchases are then donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Additionally, New Britain General Hospital, which is a founding sponsor of the Connecticut Race for the Cure, promotes breast cancer awareness actively and offers support for free mammography. As a result, the hospital's portable mammogram equipment can be found at various health fairs throughout the city.

Plantation, FL -- Mayor R. C. Armstrong -- Support for Cancer Fund-raiser

In addition to issuing the NBCAM proclamation during a televised city council meeting, the mayor supports the annual chamber of commerce race that benefits cancer survivors.

New Albany, IN -- Mayor Doug England -- Free Mammograms for City Employees

The city provides free mammograms for its employees, and with encouragement from the mayor 275 women have taken advantage of this service. The mayor was also 1999 Chairman of Relay for Life, the cancer fund-raiser of the American Cancer Society.

Frankfort, KY -- Mayor William I. May, Jr. -- Survivors' Support Group

In addition to authorizing free mammograms for city employees and endorsing a NBCAM public information campaign, the mayor is involved in a local breast cancer survivors' support group.

Amesbury, MA -- Mayor Nicholas J. Costello -- Emphasis on Print Media

In addition to issuing a proclamation, the mayor sent his letter to the editor to three newspapers to gain support for NBCAM. He also directed that a NBCAM table be set up in city hall and be coordinated with the ongoing efforts of the local Health Center to promote community breast cancer awareness.

Melrose, MA -- Mayor Patrick Guerriero -- NBCAM Press Release and Editorial

The mayor's NBCAM press release resulted in a local newspaper writing an editorial in support of breast cancer awareness and served as an extension of his overall public information campaign to encourage women to seek screening. In addition to holding related NBCAM events during the month of October, throughout the year the mayor authorizes city employees to take four hours of leave for cancer screening.

Dearborn, MI -- Mayor Michael Guido -- Reaching Low-Income Seniors

Through an intensive outreach drive in all of Dearborn's senior citizen housing complexes, the mayor encouraged low-income, older women to take advantage of free mammography -- a benefit also provided to city employees. Special awareness activities were also directed toward members of Dearborn's large Arab population, who were reached through breast model presentations and mobile mammography at their community center. Other NBCAM activities included: (1) involvement in the American Cancer Society's "TELL A FRIEND" Tuesday program -- 200 hundred city employees called five friends to remind them to get a mammogram; and (2) working with a nearby city to assist with its observation of NBCAM.

Billings, MT -- Mayor Charles F. Tooley -- Workplace as Awareness Site

In his letter to the editor of The Billings Gazette, the mayor spoke about the opportunities that the workplace affords for breast cancer awareness and access to mammography. Citing that women comprise close to half of the nation's work force, he called upon other Billings employers to join him in promoting NBCAM to local employees.

New Brunswick, NJ -- Mayor James M. Cahill -- Partnering with Cancer Institute

In addition to issuing a proclamation, writing a letter to the editor, and airing radio and television PSAs to support NBCAM, the mayor entered into a partnership with the Cancer Institute of New Jersey to promote breast cancer awareness among city employees. To this end, all 600 city employees received breast health education materials in their October 1 paychecks.

Albany, New York -- Mayor Gerald Jennings -- Cancer Screening for City Employees

Albany city employees now have four hours of leave per year for cancer screening. When the mayor announced this new policy to the public, the American Cancer Society representative at his side commended him for removing a barrier for many people in detecting cancer early, and that is the inability to take time off from work for screening. The mayor is recommending that other New York cities consider similar cancer screening policies for their employees.

Pittsburgh, PA-- Mayor Tom J. Murphy -- Outreach to City Employees

City employees are eligible for free mammograms. In order to emphasize the importance of screening, the mayor made breast health and mammography the underlying theme of the employee health/benefit fair.

West Allis, WI -- Mayor Jeanette Bell -- Member of Breast Cancer Awareness Committee

In order to promote breast cancer awareness in West Allis, the mayor belongs to a committee that assists low-income, uninsured or underinsured women to receive mammograms and appropriate follow-up. Working in conjunction with the state Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, the committee promotes breast health throughout the community -- with outreach to priority populations. One of its promotional vehicles was an information booth at the Wisconsin State Fair, and the mayor was on-site to speak with the public about the importance of breast cancer awareness.  

For more information about The Mayors' Campaign Against Breast Cancer and/or NBCAM, please call Richard Johnson, Director of Health Programs, at 202-861-6753.