(Bay Shore New York) — Breast Cancer Help, Inc. announces its support of a unique new program that offers women the opportunity to help unlock the key to preventing breast cancer: the Love/Avon Army of Women. The Love/Avon Army of Women is seeking to recruit one million women nationwide to help researchers learn what causes breast cancer and move beyond a cure to prevention. Women on Long Island are encouraged to be “one in a million” by learning more and signing up at www.armyofwomen.org.
The Love/Avon Army of Women is a partnership between the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and the Avon Foundation. It was launched on October 1, 2008 to mark the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Women have taken personal action and raised millions of dollars that has advanced treatment and early detection, but researchers still do not know what causes the disease. The Love/Avon Army of Women empowers women with a new opportunity to serve as research volunteers to help scientists understand the causes of breast cancer — and how to end it once and for all.
“Breast Cancer Help, Inc. is excited to announce that we have become an affiliate of the Army of Women. It is our privilege to help spread the word about the Army of Women and the importance of their mission,” said Lorraine Pace, Co-President/
All women not currently undergoing breast cancer treatment — including breast cancer survivors — and those who never had the disease are eligible to register. Universities and research labs throughout the country may submit their studies for consideration to the Army of Women, and all research will undergo a thorough medical and ethical review. Some research may require women to complete a questionnaire, while others may require blood or saliva samples, or other simple steps (the research studies are not clinical trials and do not involve drugs or medical procedures). The Army of Women will serve as a virtual “matchmaker,”
“Women have repeatedly demonstrated, through fundraising and advocacy, their personal dedication to ending breast cancer,” said Dr. Susan Love, a founder of Army of Women and a leader in the breast cancer movement for more than 30 years. “This new initiative gives women the opportunity to be part of the research itself and help shift the focus. The Army of Women will enable more scientists to move from studying cancer after it occurs, and testing new drugs and treatments, to seeking the cause and prevention. If we all join together, I know we can end breast cancer in our lifetime.”
“With encouragement by the Army of Women and continued research the causes of this disease can be identified giving us the ability to prevent breast cancer at its source,” Ms. Pace added. “We encourage women in the community to visit the new Love/Avon Army of Women Web site and be part of this important effort.”
To join in the project, visit www.armyofwomen.org. For more information about Breast Cancer Help, call (631) 675-9003 or visit www.breastcancerhelpinc.org.
