FROM SPECIAL EVENTS TO MAMMOGRAPHY: MAYORS SUPPORT NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
By Carol Moody Becker
November 2004
Across the nation, Mayors gave their wholehearted support for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), with 101 cities reporting that they issued proclamations urging women to seek mammography during October and throughout the year. Mayors wrote letters to the editor calling attention to NBCAM and issued press releases to alert the media to promote mammography and breast cancer awareness during October.
Mayors collaborated on community breast cancer awareness seminars, such as Schaumburg (IL) Mayor Al Larson, who supported the "I Flunked My Mammogram" symposium. Others, such as Rome (NY) Mayor James F. Brown, conducted education programs for city employees.
Several mayors participated in fund-raisers, such as Romeoville (IL) Mayor Fred Dewald, who supported the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life," and Medford (MA) Mayor Michael J. McGlynn, who promoted Lee National Denim Day for city employees, who donated to breast cancer awareness in return for wearing denim to work.
Many Mayors conducted special events, such as Michigan City (IN) Mayor Charles Oberlie, who held a garden party for local religious leaders to promote "Pink Ribbon Sunday." Lake Charles (LA) Mayor Randy Roach held a breast cancer awareness tea for families. Glen Cove (NY) Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp promoted NBCAM through "Gardens of Hope," with the community planting pink tulip bulbs throughout the city for a spring breast cancer awareness event.
Free or reduced-cost mammograms were provided, in several cities such as Columbia, SCBBan initiative strongly supported by Mayor Robert D. Coble. Especially important, Mayors supported special outreach to women from racial and ethnic minorities. African Americans and Latinas were reached through their churches by Plainfield (NJ) Mayor Al McWilliams, while Temple City (CA) Mayor Peter Zovak held an awareness seminar for Chinese-speaking residentsBBemphasizing that breast cancer can be cured if detected early.
For more details on the Mayors' NBCAM activities and/or to join the Mayors' Campaign Against Breast Cancer online, visit the USCM Web site: www.usmayors.org/cancer. Additional information about the Cancer Awareness Program of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, may be obtained by contacting Crystal D. Swann, Assistant Executive Director by e-mail: cswann@usmayors.org or by telephone: 202-293-7330.
MAYORS REPORTING ON 2004 NBCAM ACTIVITIES
CA, Temple City: MAYOR PETER ZOVAK held a breast cancer awareness seminar geared toward Chinese-speaking residents.
FL, Dunedin: MAYOR JOHN DOGLIONE wrote a letter to the editor and issued a press release to promote NBCAM.
IL, Romeoville: MAYOR FRED DEWALD co-sponsored the American Cancer Society (ACS) fundraiser "Relay for Life."
IL, Schaumburg: MAYOR AL LARSON supported the symposium, "I Flunked My Mammogram," held by the Cancer Institute at the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network. He also held a breast cancer awareness and education program for city employees, wrote a letter to the editor, and issued a press release to promote NBCAM.
IN, Michigan City: MAYOR CHARLES OBERLIE held a garden party at the historic Barker Mansion for local religious leaders, asking them to promote "Pink Ribbon Sunday." He also worked with a La Porte County coalition to promote the (ACS) fund-raiser "Relay for Life," putting the information on the permanent sections of the city's Web site that are devoted to "Relay for Life" and the Mayor's Campaign Against Cancer. He also used the city's Web site to post locations where free or reduced-cost mammograms are available.
LA, Lake Charles: MAYOR RANDY ROACH, in conjunction with The Mayor's Youth Partner ship and Impact Lake Charles AmeriCorps, held a Breast Cancer Awareness Month Tea for: Mother & Daughter, Grandmother & Granddaughter, and Sisters & Nieces. Held at the Lake Charles Civic Center, this event featured cancer survivors, oncologists, radiologists, and nutritionists.
MA, Amesbury: MAYOR DAVID T. HILDT conducted a public information campaign and worked with the community health center to promote breast cancer awareness, issuing a press release to support these NBCAM activities.
MA, Medford: MAYOR MICHAEL J. MCGLYNN participated in the Lee National Denim Day for the seventh year, and their donations were posted on Memory Wall in city hall. This fund-raiser allows employees to wear denim to work in exchange for contributions to breast cancer awareness. City and school employees were also given extra time off for all cancer screenings.
ME, Lewiston: MAYOR LIONEL C. GUAY, JR. held a Mayoral Breast Cancer Awareness Press Conference to publicize the signing of his NBCAM proclamation, an event featuring breast cancer survivors, a nurse practitioner, and an oncologistBBall emphasizing the importance of early detection.
MI, Farmington Hills: MAYOR VICKY BARNETT had breast cancer awareness information included in an October community First Aid event.
MI, Westland: MAYOR SANDRA A. CICRELLI promoted the ACS fundraiser "Relay for Life" and also issued a press release and wrote a letter to the editor to support NBCAM.
NJ, Clifton: MAYOR JAMES ANZALDI supported a special agreement at a local mammography center to screen low-income, uninsured or underinsured women. He also held a breast cancer awareness and education program for city employees, issued a press release in support of NBCAM, and wrote a letter to the editor about the importance of early detection.
NJ, Plainfield: MAYOR AL MCWILLIAMS, as part of a public information campaign, distributed his cancer awareness brochure on prevention, diagnoses, screening, and treatment throughout the communityBBsupporting this effort with his NBCAM press release and letter to the editor. He also worked with the surrounding health departments to make certain that all cancer presentations include cancer survivors. In backing efforts to screen and treat low-income, uninsured or underinsured women, his city is working with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the state of New Jersey's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Special outreach efforts are being made to African Americans and Hispanics via schools and churches. Concerned also about city government personnel, Mayor McWilliams held a breast cancer awareness and education program for city employees and gave them extra time off for cancer screening that included the offer of free mammograms.
NY, Glen Cove: MAYOR MARY ANN HOLZKAMP worked with a "Gardens of Hope" coalition, which planted hundreds of pink tulip bulbs throughout the city that will bloom in spring to promote breast cancer awareness. The mayor also issued a press release and wrote a letter to the editor in support of NBCAM.
NY, Rome: MAYOR JAMES F. BROWN declared October 26 as "Breast Cancer Awareness Day," supporting this event with a public information campaign that included a NBCAM press release and letter to the editor. He also sponsored a breast cancer awareness and education program for city employees, with extra time off to seek mammography.
OH, Akron: MAYOR DONALD PLUSQUELLIC held a press conference to announce his support for NBCAM and to urge Akron women to talk to their health care providers about the need for mammography.
OH, Kettering: MAYOR MARILOU W. SMITH supported NBCAM by writing a letter to the editor in support of NBCAM.
SC, Columbia: MAYOR ROBERT D. COBLE promoted a project to decorate over 300 businesses with a pink ribbon; held a 6th annual breast cancer awareness fund-raising breakfast at city hall; and worked with the Palmetto Health Foundation on NBCAM. He also sponsored a team on the First Ladies' "Walk for Life." His public information campaign was supported by a NBCAM press release. He supported a breast cancer awareness and education program for city employees, who were given extra time off for mammography with an offer of free mammograms. New breast cancer awareness outreach efforts were undertaken to reach menBBespecially of college ageBBand also small business owners who may not provide health insurance for their employees.
UT, West Point City: MAYOR JOHN PETROFF, JR. directed that: all city communications during October carry his quotes of support for NBCAM; breast cancer awareness materials be made available at city hall; and all city officials wear pink ribbons. City employees were given extra time off to get mammograms. The mayor supported these efforts with a NBCAM press release.
