Des Moines Affiliate Of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Elizabeth Edwards, Breast Cancer Survivors and Activists Called on Policymakers to Address Injustice and Unfairness in Breast Cancer Incidence and Mortality

Susan G. Komen for the Cure hosted events across Des Moines August 16 - 18 to launch Iowa's participation in the Komen Community Challenge. The 25-city tour stopped in Des Moines with the goal of rallying Iowans to close the gaps in research, public policy and access to quality care that make breast cancer deadlier for some women.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070122/NYM084LOGO)

On August 16, health care advocates, breast cancer survivors and elected officials gathered at the Anderson Erickson Dairy Stage at the Iowa State Fair for a Close the Gap rally, with Elizabeth Edwards as a featured speaker. The rally called on policymakers to increase funding for the Care for Yourself screening program, which provides mammograms and clinical breast exams for uninsured and low-income women. Under current funding levels, the program serves less than ten percent of eligible women.

"Iowa's failure to take care of our mothers, wives, sisters and friends is shameful. We need to make sure that every woman who needs a breast cancer screening gets one -- even if she cannot afford to pay for it," said Lisa Long, president of the Des Moines Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

On August 17, breast cancer survivors and activists gathered at a breakfast forum at Terrace Hill to advocate for a $500,000 state appropriation for Care for Yourself to meet the goal of increasing the number of Iowa women who are screened by 20 percent within the next fiscal year.

August 18 was Komen for the Cure Night at the Iowa Cubs baseball game. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a presidential candidate, threw out the first pitch on behalf of Komen for the Cure.

Komen on the Go(TM), Komen's traveling community education bus, was at the Blank Park Zoo on August 17 and at the Downtown Farmers Market the morning of August 18.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for women in Iowa. This year, more than 2,000 women will receive a breast cancer diagnosis and more than 400 of them will die from the disease. In the United States, a woman has about a 13 percent risk -- or one in eight -- of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. Low-income women are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer and are three times more likely to die from the disease.

Komen for the Cure is marking its 25th anniversary year by ratcheting up the fight against breast cancer, highlighting the disparities in breast cancer incidence and mortality, and taking its special brand of pink ribbon activism on the road.

About the Des Moines Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

The Komen Des Moines Affiliate assists Iowans in 90 counties. Seventy-five percent of net donations stays in Iowa to provide services to the women in our communities and 25 percent of net donations is put directly toward breast cancer research through the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grants Program. The Des Moines Affiliate's largest fundraiser, the Komen Race for the Cure, will be held on October 6, 2007 at Western Gateway Park. For more information on the local Affiliate, or this year's Race, visit http://www.komendesmoines.org.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit http://www.komen.org or call 1-800 I'M AWARE.