Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-521-5774
For Immediate Release: May 7, 2008
Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre
Lawmakers Help Promote
‘Komen Advocacy Day’ at the State Capitol
Participants in the first ever “Komen Advocacy Day”
at the State Capitol are calling the event a tremendous success.
State Sen. Judy
Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa, and Rep. Lucky Lamons, D-Tulsa, co-authored
legislation to bring awareness to the event and to the organization
dedicated to helping more women have greater access to breast cancer
education, screening and treatment programs.
In 2006, Eason McIntyre was diagnosed with breast cancer. She opted
to fight her cancer aggressively, undergoing a double mastectomy.
Among her visitors at the hospital were representatives from the
Susan B. Komen for the Cure organization.
“Once I got passed the surgery, I knew that I was destined
to do whatever I could to raise breast cancer awareness,”
Eason McIntyre said. “Susan B. Komen has helped me with that
mission.”
Lamons also has a personal reason for becoming involved as a board
member for the Tulsa Affiliate of Susan B. Komen. His wife was diagnosed
with breast cancer two years ago, and like Eason McIntyre, is now
cancer-free. He called the first Komen Advocacy Day a success.
“They need to start having a dialogue with the Representatives
and the Senators just in case they have something that they need
to seek some legislation on,” Lamons said. “I think
we’ve started something here that I hope lasts for a long
time.”
Lorna Palmer is the Executive Director of the Central Oklahoma Affiliate
for Susan B. Komen. She said one thing many lawmakers wanted to
know is why there wasn’t an affiliate in their community.
“One of the things we’re hoping to accomplish is to
get some of the representation on our side to help us come to their
areas so we can help fund services in their towns,” Palmer
said. “We know the need is greater than just the two major
cities.”
Lawmakers received information packets from Komen volunteers, including
Alberta Jones of Tulsa. Jones is an 11 year cancer survivor.
“Anything that I can do to help spread the word about breast
cancer, I’m willing to do that and to give information and
to make sure that other people are aware of the importance of knowing
of treatment and cure—that’s important to me,”
Jones said.
Christy Southard is the executive director for the Tulsa Susan B.
Komen affiliate, and said the organization is helping save lives.
“Last year we found 42 cases of breast cancer in Tulsa County
through our programs that we fund,” Southard said. “That’s
42 women who have a much better chance of surviving the disease.”
Eason McIntyre said she believes there is an increasing awareness
about breast cancer, but added there was still much more work to
be done.
“That’s why this event is so important. With term limits,
we’re going to have a revolving door of legislators who will
be making decisions about funding and other kinds of things that
relate to this, and so it’s imperative that they stay here
at the Capitol, stay in contact, build relationships with the legislators,
and hopefully, get some of them as excited about helping out in
this as I am,” Eason McIntyre said.
For more information contact:
Senator Eason McIntyre's Office: (405) 521-5598
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