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 Joanne Wood

The hikers work so hard to raise money for these charities and so many people donate. We wanted you to know how this event truly impacts the lives of people in our communities.

SEVERAL NEW PROGRAMS AT THE WELLNESS COMMUNITY WERE FUNDED BY THE HIKE IN 2007 :

- Educational program with Dr. Salhia Bodour from TGen to help women understand the role genetics will play in targeted breast cancer treatments.

- A BRCA2 Support group for women who have tested positive for the gene linked to increased risk of breast cancer

- A monthly breast cancer support group plus quarterly educational presentation.

 - Several other existing free programs were also supplemented by the hike

The money raised from this event is helping to further the Breast Cancer Fund’s mission to identify – and advocate for elimination of – the environmental and other preventable causes of the disease.

In August 2008, after months of advocacy on the part of the Breast Cancer Fund, Congress passed historic legislation banning six phthalates from toys. The federal ban, a provision of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, protects children from these plastic-softening chemicals that have been linked to breast cancer, decreased sperm counts, birth defects and other health problems. The legislation marks a first, important step toward reforming the way chemicals are regulated in the United States.

Currently, the Breast Cancer Fund is supporting U.S. Rep. Edward Markey’s (D-MA) Ban Poisonous Additives bill, which would ban bisphenol A (BPA) in all food and beverage containers. BPA is a toxic chemical linked to breast cancer, birth defects, obesity and diabetes.

In addition, as part of the collaboration with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, we will work to support federal and state legislative initiatives that bar cosmetics manufacturers from selling personal care products that contain toxic chemicals, repeal labeling loopholes, encourage data sharing, and promote safe alternatives.

In the upcoming legislative session, we will work to shape the new federal War on Cancer to ensure that it includes a strong commitment to reducing cancer rates by funding research and initiatives that identify and eliminate the environmental links to cancer.