Dixon release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2009

CONTACT: Scott Peterson 443-740-5412 Scott.Peterson@BaltimoreCity.gov

Mayor Dixon Kicks-Off Breast Cancer Awareness Month Announces Collaboration with Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for Cure, Lights City Hall Dome Pink BALTIMORE, MD (September 30, 2009) Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon was joined by the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Cabinet members, and city employees to announce several initiatives in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, including lighting the City Hall dome pink. “The cancer rates affecting women in Baltimore city is unacceptable,” stated Mayor Sheila Dixon. “These women are our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our aunts, our friends, our neighbors and our co-workers. They are dying of a disease that can be treated effectively if detected early enough. We must do everything in our power to improve our education, outreach, and prevention to save lives.” Mayor Dixon and Robin Prothro, Executive Director of Komen Maryland, spoke about this year’s Komen Maryland Community Profile. Komen Maryland conducted a 10-month study to evaluate the state of breast cancer in their service area (the state of Maryland, except for Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties). The final Community Profile report revealed that women and families in Komen Maryland’s service area suffer acutely from the impact of breast cancer, especially with regard to death rates. Maryland is ranked fifth in the nation for breast cancer death rates. Women in Maryland are not diagnosed with breast cancer any more frequently than the national average, but they are dying of breast cancer at higher rates. This year alone, an estimated 810 Maryland women will die from breast cancer.

The African-American community faces particularly unique breast cancer issues. African-American women in Maryland do not have as high an incidence of breast cancer as white women, but have a higher death rate when compared to white women. This

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means that once diagnosed, an African-American woman has a greater chance of dying of breast cancer than a white woman.

Komen Maryland has developed an action plan to work across the state and in hard-hit areas to increase breast cancer awareness and stress the importance of early detection and screening in African-American communities. Komen Maryland funds breast cancer screening, education, and treatment grant programs. This year’s grant applications are due November 2, 2009. For more information, visit the grants section of their website at www.komenmd.org. Other Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities include lighting the City Hall dome pink and displaying a pink ribbon on War Memorial Plaza. # # # Please visit our website at www.baltimorecity.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 30, 2009

CONTACT: Scott Peterson 443-740-5412 Scott.Peterson@BaltimoreCity.gov

Mayor Dixon Kicks-Off Breast Cancer Awareness Month Announces Collaboration with Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for Cure, Lights City Hall Dome Pink

BALTIMORE, MD (September 30, 2009) Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon was joined by the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Cabinet members, and city employees to announce several initiatives in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, including lighting the City Hall dome pink.

“The cancer rates affecting women in Baltimore city is unacceptable,” stated Mayor Sheila Dixon. “These women are our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our aunts, our friends, our neighbors and our co-workers. They are dying of a disease that can be treated effectively if detected early enough. We must do everything in our power to improve our education, outreach, and prevention to save lives.”

Mayor Dixon and Robin Prothro, Executive Director of Komen Maryland, spoke about this year’s Komen Maryland Community Profile. Komen Maryland conducted a 10-month study to evaluate the state of breast cancer in their service area (the state of Maryland, except for Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties).

The final Community Profile report revealed that women and families in Komen Maryland’s service area suffer acutely from the impact of breast cancer, especially with regard to death rates. Maryland is ranked fifth in the nation for breast cancer death rates. Women in Maryland are not diagnosed with breast cancer any more frequently than the national average, but they are dying of breast cancer at higher rates. This year alone, an estimated 810 Maryland women will die from breast cancer.

The African-American community faces particularly unique breast cancer issues. African-American women in Maryland do not have as high an incidence of breast cancer as white women, but have a higher death rate when compared to white women. This means that once diagnosed, an African-American woman has a greater chance of dying of breast cancer than a white woman.

Komen Maryland has developed an action plan to work across the state and in hard-hit areas to increase breast cancer awareness and stress the importance of early detection and screening in African-American communities. Komen Maryland funds breast cancer screening, education, and treatment grant programs. This year’s grant applications are due November 2, 2009. For more information, visit the grants section of their website at www.komenmd.org.

Other Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities include lighting the City Hall dome pink and displaying a pink ribbon on War Memorial Plaza.

# # #

Please visit our website at www.baltimorecity.gov