• Maine Breast Cancer Coalition collaborates with other organizations to win the battle against breast cancer.
• We advocate for important initiatives for research, treatment, and a cure for breast cancer.
• We developed a statewide network of people to respond quickly to legislative alerts pertaining to important breast cancer-related national and state legislation.

To find out more about current issues in breast cancer advocacy and legislation visit the
National Breast Cancer Coalition web site at www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org

For the latest facts about breast cancer from the National Breast Cancer Coalition www.knowbreastcancer.org

Every 14 minutes, a woman dies of breast cancer in the United States. Worldwide, nearly half a million women and men will die this year from the disease.

This must change, and with your help, it will.

Breast Cancer Deadline 2020® is the National Breast Cancer Coalition's global initiative to end breast cancer by January 1, 2020. As a leader in the breast cancer movement and a supporter of Breast Cancer Deadline 2020®, the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition is committed to being a part of this important work. As leaders, we do all that we can throughout the year to support the plan of action to achieve our common goal of ending breast cancer.

We will not end breast cancer unless we have the right leadership . . . and that includes advocate leaders! We need educated, trained advocates to lead the Breast Cancer Deadline 2020® plan of action. And, we need to learn from one another.

Leaders in the breast cancer movement gathered in Washington, DC—May 4-7, 2013—to demonstrate their support for Breast Cancer Deadline 2020®.

Maine Breast Cancer Coalition sent two representatives, Laurel Bezanson and Bethany Zell, to represent Maine at the Summit.


Photo: Laurel Bezanson and Bethany Zell (left to right) shown at the 2012 Summit

As advocate leaders, Laurel and Bethany:

• Learned the details of the Breast Cancer Deadline 2020® Blueprint and plan of action

• Interacted with scientists, thought leaders and innovators in small, intimate groups

• Sat down with top researchers in prevention and metastasis

• Discussed the post-election White House and Congress with public policy experts and then applied their knowledge on Capitol Hill in meetings with their members of Congress on Lobby Day

• Developed life-long leadership skills and create individual year-long action plans to mobilize and engage their communities in Breast Cancer Deadline 2020®

You can find out more about Breast Cancer Deadline 2020® or the National Breast Cancer Coalition at www.stopbreastcancer.org

Press Release by Bethany Zell, Maine Breast Cancer Coalition volunteer
Washington, DC – May 8, 2012

Representing the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition, Laurel Bezanson of South Portland and Bethany Zell of Caribou attended the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) Advocate Summit in Washington, DC from May 5-8. The summit is the NBCC’s national meeting of breast cancer advocates from around the world. There were sessions on the latest scientific research, training in effective advocacy strategies, and presentations by respected researchers in the field, grassroots leaders from around the country, and prominent public policy experts.

The summit also involved advocates in the work to achieve Breast Cancer Deadline 2020 - NBCC's strategic plan to end breast cancer by January 1, 2020. The highlight of the summit was a day on Capitol Hill lobbying for the “Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act” (HR 3067) and the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program. 

Laurel Bezanson and a fellow attendee from Maine, Bethany Zell of Caribou, met with the staff of Congressman Mike Michaud and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, who had both already signed on to HR 3067. The evening culminated with a Congressional Reception in the Kennedy Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Building. 

At the reception, Maine Senator Susan Collins was awarded with the NBCC’s Breast Cancer Deadline 2020 Award for her advocacy on behalf of people diagnosed with breast cancer, and especially for her continuing fight to maintain the Department of Defense’s Breast Cancer Research Program.  While accepting this award, Senator Collins made the exciting announcement that she will support the bill for “Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer” once it is introduced in the Senate.

As a breast cancer survivor and active member of the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition, Laurel has made it her mission to inform and advocate for the end of breast cancer and the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s Breast Cancer Deadline 2020.

Currently, the NBCC is gathering signatures on a petition to the President of the United States.  “We want to gather 290,000 signatures in total, one for each person who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.  Regionally, we want to collect 1,485 signatures from the state of Maine because that is how many people will be diagnosed in Maine this year,” said Laurel Bezanson.

To participate in the petition, please visit http://www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org/act/Presidential-Petition.html and either sign electronically or print out signature forms to assist in the signature gathering. 

Shown in photo L to R: Laurel Bezanson, Senator Collins, Bethany Zell

The National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) has a unique history and an unmatched record of accomplishment in breast cancer. Since NBCC’s inception in 1991, the organization’s mission has been to end breast cancer. Now, NBCC has set a deadline: Breast Cancer Deadline 2020® – the end of breast cancer by January 1, 2020.

According to NBCC, “These are not just words; we have a strategic plan to get there.  While the vast majority of resources are focused on finding the next treatment, NBCC is doing something very different. We are bringing together unprecedented collaborations among scientists, visionaries, and advocates to catalyze, plan and implement work in two major areas: how to prevent metastasis to save lives and how to prevent the development of breast cancer.”

Beginning with a baseline report in May 2011, NBCC will issue Annual Progress Reports about Breast Cancer Deadline 2020®. These reports, which will summarize the state of breast cancer as well as the status of NBCC’s work to end breast cancer, will hold us and the entire breast cancer community accountable to the Deadline.  Starting in 2013, NBCC will convene biennial Leadership Summits to examine progress and provide guidance and direction for the ongoing work to achieve Breast Cancer Deadline 2020®.

Sign the Petition to the President! Urge President Obama to commit to a leadership role in Breast Cancer Deadline 2020®.

To find out more about Breast Cancer Deadline 2020 and the National Breast Cancer Coalition go to www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org.