ABOVE PHOTO: State Rep. James Roebuck, D-Phila., speaks at a Capitol ceremony honoring the 20th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. Roebuck and Rep. Seth Grove, R-York, authored a resolution, which the House adopted, designating May 7, 2013 as Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition Day.
HARRISBURG–The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Tuesday unanimously approved H.R. 301, authored by Reps. Seth Grove, R-York, and James Roebuck, D-Phila., to designate May 7 as “Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition Day.”
“For 20 years the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition has been raising awareness of breast cancer and fighting for a cure,” Roebuck said. “This resolution was written on behalf of anyone who has ever been touched by this disease, and I thank the coalition for its efforts and for the lives it has helped to save.”
The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition offers programs to women throughout the Commonwealth, such as Friends Like Me, which provides care packages to newly diagnosed women, and Refunds for Research, which allows Pennsylvania taxpayers to donate all or a portion of their state tax refund to breast cancer research.
The coalition also hosts a traveling photo exhibit called “67 Women and 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania.” The exhibit made a stop in Harrisburg this week to mark its 20th anniversary of serving women diagnosed with breast cancer. It can be seen in the Capitol Rotunda through May 17.
PHOTO: Seth Grove.
Grove’s wife, Kacey, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2012 at the age of 31 when she was pregnant with the couple’s second son. Luckily, the cancer diagnosis was made when she was nearly full term with the pregnancy and their son was not affected. After months of treatment and several surgeries, Kacey is now cancer free and on the mend.
“We all know the cancer statistics, but it doesn’t seem real until it happens to someone you love,” Grove said. “Our family was getting ready to welcome Connor into the world; we were never prepared for a cancer diagnosis. When a family is hit with this kind of news, it is groups like the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition that truly make a difference. They helped us to realize we are not alone in this fight, and there is a lot of support out there for people who are going through this.”
Grove also noted that the support of family and friends was critical as they juggled the responsibilities of a newborn baby with the demands of cancer treatment.
“The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition is delighted to accept this distinguished honor during our 20th anniversary year,” said PBCC president and founder Pat Halpin-Murphy. “We would like to thank Representatives Seth Grove and James Roebuck for their continued support of our efforts to serve the women and families in Pennsylvania affected by this disease. Together, we remain committed to our goal of finding a cure for breast cancer now… so our daughters won’t have to.”
The PBCC represents, supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and breast cancer research grants. More information is available by calling 800-377-8828 or visiting www.PABreastCancer.org.
Grove posts information about his legislative priorities at www.RepGrove.com and www.Facebook.com/RepSethGrove. Information about Roebuck can be found at www.PAHouse.com/Roebuck and Twitter.com/RepRoebuck.
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