Central New York Affiliate of Su

Let Washington Know!

Komen Champions for the Cure®	Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the nation's largest private funding source for breast cancer research and community outreach programs. Komen Champions for the Cure^TM is a program designed to increase public investment in breast health and breast cancer care by educating Congress, the President and other policy-makers on issues important to women and families facing breast cancer. The Komen Champions for the Cure^TM Web site, ActNowEndBreastCancer.org, enables thousands of concerned Americans to join the fight against breast cancer. Every supporter who takes action on ActNowEndBreastCancer.org will receive the monthly Komen eChampion Update and urgent action alerts when help is needed.
Advocate!	Get to know your elected officials. Find out what committees your members of Congress and Senate are on, visit their Web sites, and learn how you can get in touch with your Congressional delegation.
Write a Letter to the Editor	Letters to the editor affect public opinion, educate readers on an issue, and influence public officials. They can help raise awareness about breast cancer and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure mission among elected officials, stakeholders, and the public. Remember these simple points: Keep it short. Check with your newspaper's editorial department on the word limit requirements. Keeping it short also means your important points won't be left out. Be clear. Stick to one very clear point. Substantiate. Support your position with facts. Personalize. Write about your own experience - tell why you care about the NBCCEDP. Make it local. Tell how this issue affects your local community. Be polite! Sign it. Include your name, address and telephone number. Don't forget to sign and date your letter and include your phone number. Many papers will call and confirm the author before printing the letter. Cite references. If possible, reference a recent news article from your local paper. While it is not necessary, it helps if you are responding to a particular story in the paper. Include the headline and date in the first or second sentence of your letter. Letters to the Editor tell the newspaper editor that your issues are important and should be covered.
Take Action Now	Help Alleviate Suffering - Fight for Better Pain Treatment Health and qualitiy of life can depend on how effectively a patient's pain is treated. While states are making steady progress in pain management, many people experiencing chronic pain from diseases like breast cancer still face barriers to proper treatment, a new report shows. How effective are the pain policies in your state and how can they be improved? Get a copy of the Pain and Policy Studies Group Progress Report Card and contact your Governor and state officials so they can better serve breast cancer patients.