A dog watches a couple head to their inundated home on a road in the Fords section of Vicksburg, MS
Today marked the 3rd Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol.
Part II of the Breast Cancer Awareness Day includes a Testimony from Mr. Hopkins--who is a crusader for Breast Cancer Awareness. He believes in helping this cause; he has lost his wife, his 13 year old daughter to breast cancer and another daughter just recently had her breast removed and reconstructive surgery. Mr. Hopkins chartered the Pediatric Cancer Association after his 13-year old daughter died from this haunting disease. He states that he will always be very active in the cancer fight awareness.
According to CDC stats---cancer is a leading cause of death among children in the United States. However, childhood cancer deaths are now declining.
In the United States, cancer is the second most common cause of death among children between the ages of 1 and 14 years, surpassed only by accidents. More than 16 out of every 100,000 children and teens in the U.S. were diagnosed with cancer, and nearly 3 of every 100,000 died from the disease.The most common cancers in children were leukemia (cancer of the bone marrow and blood) and brain and central nervous system cancers.
Ms. Karen McAhren is from the Indian Healthcare Resource Center from Tulsa, Oklahoma. This service is open to all Indian tribe members.
A very important visitor to the the capitol was Ely who is a therapy dog. He was wearing his pink tie in celebration of breast cancer awareness day. He works with cancer patients to soothe them during their cancer fight. Ely is a Great Pyrenees Mix......very beautiful dog.
Soulful Survivors---an African American Breast Cancer Support Group from Tulsa, Oklahoma was also in attendance at the Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Their mission statement is to educate and support African American women who have breast cancer or have survived breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among African-American women. African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer than women from any other ethnic group. The incidence rate of breast cancer is higher among younger African American women (under age 40), than any other groups of women.
Oklahoma Project Woman
( http://www.oklahomaprojectwoman.org )
currently provides breast health education, no cost mammography, diagnostic procedures and surgical services for women who, because of financial hardship, may delay seeking medical attention in the entire state of Oklahoma.
Breast Impressions, Inc.
( http://www.breastimpressions.com ) was founded by Judy Wescott Grove. Its mission is to increase breast cancer awareness and fundraising to support breast cancer education, prevention and treatment. Breast Impressions, Inc. also donates breast casting kits to women who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. These casting kits allow those diagnosed to make a "memory" of their own prior to breast surgery. Since their inception well over 180 breast casting kits have been sent free of charge to women across the world.
Part III of this iReport will follow with a special exclusive CNN iReport interview with Senator Judy Eason McIntyre of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
This CNN iReport is dedicated to my wonderful and dearest friend -- Ms. Linda Drew....Happy 2-year anniversary Lin. You are just awesome! You always have that 'big smile' on your face to brighten and lighten everyone else's load. Love ya and my prayer is that God will just keep blessing you ohhhhh so abundantly!...
