Komen Community Challenge
Last month, Jessica Munday (or Jessica Sr. as we refer to her) and I had the opportunity to participate in the Komen Community Challenge. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is taking this tour to 24 cities across the United States and Columbia, South Carolina just happened to be one of them. The Community Challenge is Komen’s grassroots effort to “close the gap”. When we arrived at the Governor’s Mansion, the sea of pink certainly made an impression. There was definitely unity and we were all there to “close the gap.” But I found myself wondering what that gap was and walking onto the grounds of the Governor’s mansion, this phrase meant very little to me. As I left there that day, I understood just how powerful those three words are and why so much needs to be done.
I won’t even begin to comment on our health care system. That would be a never ending entry! And I am a firm believer that talk is cheap. That’s why this event left such an impressions on me. I was educated on an issue that is difficult for all of us to understand, health insurance. Through my involvement with Komen, I have had the privilege of meeting many survivors. The one thing that I am constantly reminded of is that cancer doesn’t care who you are, what you do, or how much money you have. That is why I am proud to be a part of Komen’s efforts to “close the gap” in access to quality health care, research and information. We should all feel empowered by Komen’s efforts. They are going directly to the source, our elected leaders, to tell them that it’s wrong for a 25-year-old woman to be denied mammogram coverage. It’s wrong to deny life-saving care to a woman, or anyone, because of their financial situation. And from my participation in this event it’s clear to me they aren’t just talking about it, they’re doing something.
It was a privilege to be among so many dedicated and out-spoken women (and gentlemen). I look forward to continuing my involvement with Komen and helping to close the gap. And like Komen said, this wasn’t no tea party. Great job Komen!
July 10th, 2007 at 8:06 am
While I am not a supporter of Michael Moore and I thought his latest movie was certainly slanted, I recommend going to see Sicko (http://sicko-movie.com/). He talks about the exact issues that you mentioned and why our health care system is so messed up.
Much like the example you gave of the 25-year-old woman denied mammogram coverage, Moore has an interview with a 22 year-old woman who was denied coverage for cervical cancer because she was “too young,” since most women have that type of cancer when they are much older.
It really does make you angry when dealing with insurance companies, and it makes me even angrier to know that they are the ones running the health care system in America.