[Posted Jan. 23, 2008]

Links Mobilize To End Breast Cancer

 
Washington, DC—The Links, Incorporated and Susan G. Komen for the Cure have rolled out an unprecedented collaboration to mobilize the African American community to end breast cancer. Through Komen for the Cure’s Circle of Promise campaign, the two groups will work together to empower women to reclaim their lives and their health in an effort to reverse the alarming statistics on African Americans and breast cancer.  

Dr. Gwen B. Lee, National President of The Links, Incorporated; Hala Moddelmog, President and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure; and Katrina McGhee, Vice President of Marketing, Susan G. Komen for the Cure. 

      The Circle of Promise campaign, launched in October, 2007, was created to engage African American women in the fight against breast cancer. This partnership with The Links, Incorporated, one of the largest and oldest community volunteer service organizations of women, accelerates Komen’s ability to reach thousands of women in the U.S. and around the globe to provide hope, awareness, education and social support to breast cancer survivors, their family members and the community.  

     “In times of crisis, African Americans have traditionally turned to family, friends and the community for support and strength,” said Dr. Gwendolyn Lee, national president of The Links, Incorporated. “Through our alliance with Komen’s Circle of Promise initiative, we hope our membership will make this fight their own and encourage other African American women to get active and empower others. We want the African American community to know that they are not alone. Together, we can find the cures.” 
      Recent studies show that while African American women do not develop breast cancer as often as other women, they are more likely to die from it at a significantly higher rate and they do not live as long with the disease. Also, African American women are diagnosed with more aggressive types of breast cancer and they develop the disease earlier in life.  
     “Since the 1980s, African American women have had the highest death rate and lowest survival rate of any racial or ethnic group affected by breast cancer,” said Hala Moddelmog, Komen for the Cure president and CEO. “We cannot let another decade pass without taking aggressive action to change these frightening statistics. The entire community must come together to impact change and it will take activists including members of  The Links and Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s Affiliates around the world to bring greater awareness to this issue and to provide increased education and support to the African American community as we work together to find the cures.” 
      Komen also announced that Xernona Clayton, Founder and CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation, and Sybil Wilkes, noted radio personality from the Tom Joyner Morning Show, have added their support as Circle of Promise ambassadors. The Circle of Promise is chaired by television personality and author, Rene Syler, and well-known breast cancer advocate, Alexine Clement Jackson.  

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