ATLANTA, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 20-22, the Greater Atlanta Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will host a series of events to launch Metro Atlanta’s participation in the nationwide 25-city Komen Community Challenge to “Close the Gap” in breast care that causes some women to die of the disease more than others.
Atlanta resident and Komen for the Cure CEO Hala Moddelmog will participate in several events designed to engage the community in advocating for full funding of Georgia’s Breast Test and More, a state program that provides breast cancer screenings to under- and uninsured Georgians.
Nationwide, every three minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. This year in Georgia, 4,520 will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,120 will likely die -- only lung cancer kills as many women in the state. Low income and under-insured women are three times more likely to die from the disease, whereas those with access to early diagnosis have a 95 percent chance for survival.
Event and Media Availability Details: WHEN: Wednesday, June 20 1:30pm -- Reception and Press Avails; 2:00 until 3:30 pm -- Roundtable Discussion, Q&A WHAT: ROUNDTABLE: “Closing the Breast Care Gap” Experts will address racial, ethnic and economic factors in access to health care and how these factors impact screening and treatment for breast cancer. LOCATION: Steiner Auditorium, Grady Memorial Hospital, 68 Armstrong Street WHO: Interviews available with: Hala Moddelmog, President & CEO, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Rene Syler, author, TV personality and breast cancer advocate Georgia Representative Pam Stephenson (D-92) Georgia Representative Sharon Cooper (R-41) Dr. Otis Brawley, Medical Director of the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence, Grady Memorial Hospital Venus Gines, Founder and CEO of Dia de la Mujer Latina, Inc. Marianne Chung, Program Director, Center for Pan Asian Community Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHEN: Thursday, June 21 8:00am to 1:00pm -- Public Education Event 12:00 to 12:15pm -- Remarks and Press Avails; Entertainment by members of Shades of Pink, a breast cancer survivors’ chorus WHAT: PUBLIC CALL TO ACTION: “Closing the Funding Gap for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Care.” Activists led by Komen for the Cure’s CEO Hala Moddelmog, will engage the public to sign petitions advocating full funding of Georgia’s Breast Test and More to give all Georgian’s access to breast cancer screening. PHOTO OP: Komen On the Go, a large mobile education vehicle, will provide breast health information. LOCATION: Atlantic Station WHO: Interviews available with: Hala Moddelmog, CEO of Komen for the Cure Rene Syler, author, TV personality and breast cancer advocate ------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHEN: Thursday, June 21 WHAT: PHOTO OP: Forty Komen for the Cure pink t-shirt clad canvassers will gather petition signatures from attendees during Screen on the Green at Piedmont Park from 6:30pm until dusk. The petition will ask State officials to fully fund Georgia’s Breast Test and More screening program.
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070122/NYM084LOGOPRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.comSusan G. Komen for the Cure
CONTACT: Amanda Marsden of Greater Atlanta Affiliate of Susan G. Komen forthe Cure, +1-404-459-8700, amarsden@komenatlanta.org; or Allen Thornell ofTalking Heads Media, +1-678-488-2188, allen@talkingheadsmedia.com, forSusan G. Komen for the Cure
Web site: http://www.komen.org//