FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290

First Lady Celebrates New Susan G. Komen Foundation Affiliate

JEFFERSON CITY–First Lady Melanie Blunt will today help open the new Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Mid-Missouri Affiliate. Mrs. Blunt will serve as spokesperson and honorary chair for the organization that strives to raise support for breast cancer education, research, and patient services for Mid-Missouri residents.

“Early detection is important in the battle against breast cancer,” Mrs. Blunt said. “I am honored to serve as spokesperson for the new Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Mid-Missouri Affiliate and look forward to helping educate Missourians about this devastating disease and how they can be proactive in the fight against breast cancer.”

Each year in Missouri, 123 of every 100,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Approximately one in four women over 40 years old in Missouri has not been screened for breast cancer by mammography within the last 2 years.

The national foundation’s main focus is researching and fighting breast cancer with the hope of one day completely eradicating it as a life-threatening disease. The Mid-Missouri Affiliate joins Kansas City and St. Louis to become the third Komen affiliate in our state. The funds raised by each affiliate remain in their respective areas.

“Breast cancer touched my life personally, when as a teenager I lost my mother to the disease,” Mrs. Blunt said. “I appreciate the selfless contributions that have made this affiliate a reality.”

Promoting breast cancer awareness is an important aspect of the first lady’s women’s wellness initiative.

The first lady will participate in the official ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled today at 4:15 p.m. at The Tiger, 23 S. 8th Street in Columbia.

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