Kilili seeks support in fight vs breast cancer

Their bill, House Concurrent Resolution 109, encourages Americans to participate in the Foundation’s fundraisers, including the June 6 Race for the Cure. The bill also expresses admiration for those who have survived the disease and support for those currently battling it. Wasserman-Schultz is herself a breast cancer survivor.

“I am amazed by the courage of the women and men who fight this disease,” Sablan said. “People like Mrs. Wasserman-Schultz are role models to us all for their inspiring determination.

Wasserman-Schultz announced in March that, while campaigning for re-election and volunteering on the presidential campaign, she had also been battling breast cancer, going to chemotherapy and radiation treatments in secret, often heading straight back to the office to complete her congressional duties.

In March, Sablan co-sponsored the EARLY Act, written by Wasserman-Schultz, which promotes education for early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

“I am so glad we could work together to promote awareness of this disease,” Sablan said of his work with Wasserman-Schultz.

Sablan also congratulated those in the Northern Marianas who have been active in the fight against breast cancer. Last year Saipan even fielded its own team to participate in the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in Seattle. The “Saipan Sweet Feet” team included Bobbi Grizzard, Marian Aldan Pierce, Clarie Kosak, Pam Brown, Rhoda Smith, Roberta Guerrero, Kazuyo Tojo, and Corrine Loprinzi (Brown’s sister-in-law from Portland, Oregon).

Money raised in the 3-Day Walk goes to medical research, but also provides support for those with the disease and their families. This year the Komen Foundation offered $10,000, 4-year scholarships to students who would otherwise find attending college to be unaffordable due to the loss of a parent to breast cancer. Information about the 3-Day Walk is available at http://www.the3day.org.

“I encourage Americans to participate in the Komen Race for the Cure and Walk for the Cure to help this wonderful foundation which is really making a difference in the lives of so many,” said Sablan.

Over a million women around the world are diagnosed with the breast cancer every year, and 456,000 die from it.

Over 50,000 participants, including 4,000 breast cancer survivors, are expected to participate in this year’s National Race for the Cure in Washington, D.C., and even more will walk and run around the world. Last year, participants in these races raised over $3 million to fund research grants and educational programs.

All told the Komen Foundation has invested nearly $1.2 billion in the fight against breast cancer. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]