[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 73 (Monday, May 5, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E809]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATIONS TO SALLIE AIJALEN MARX

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                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 5, 2008

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to say 
congratulations to Sallie Marx on the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah.
  In Judaism, Bat Mitzvah celebrates the coming of age of a Jewish 
girl. According to Jewish law, when Jewish children reach the age of 
majority (twelve for girls) they become responsible for their actions, 
Jewish ritual law, tradition, and ethics and are privileged to 
participate in all areas of Jewish community life. The celebrant is 
asked to perform a mitzvah project, providing a service to the greater 
community.
  Sallie Aijalen Marx, 12 years old, from Bainbridge Island, Washington 
will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on May 17th, 2008 along with Grandmother 
Ruth Marx, Grandparents Gary and Phyllis Marx, Grandparents Mary Ellen 
and Andy Mendelsohn, Parents Josh and Stacey Marx, and lots of friends 
and relatives. As a mitzvah project she has raised $5,500 for the Susan 
G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and traveled across the state to run 
in the 5 K ``Race for a Cure'' in Spokane in April. Sallie raised more 
money than any other individual and all but two groups for the April 
event.
  The Susan G. Komen for the Cure was founded in 1982 and launched the 
global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's 
largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists 
fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and 
energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen 
Race for the Cure, they have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill 
their promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated 
to the fight against breast cancer.
  For the past 25 years, Komen for the Cure has played a critical role 
in every major advance in the fight against breast cancer--transforming 
how the world talks about and treats this disease and helping to turn 
millions of breast cancer patients into breast cancer survivors. Their 
contributions include more early detection, more hope, more research 
and more survivors.
  On her web page Sallie said ``One of the things that inspires me is 
that my grandma has had breast cancer since 1982. Unfortunately, I know 
many others who have been affected by breast cancer as well.'' Raising 
money for the Komen for the Cure Foundation and running in the Race for 
a Cure was the perfect mitzvah project given her sensitivity to breast 
cancer issues, her fund raising talent, and her athleticism.
  Sallie is a bright young woman who excels in soccer, basketball, and 
lacrosse. Her middle name, Aijalen, means happiness in a Chilean 
indigenous language; a product of her parents' service in the Peace 
Corps in Chile. She enjoys cooking, loves to read Sports Illustrated, 
rooting for the Red Sox, and is an outstanding student. Sallie's mother 
Stacey joined her in the Race for a Cure while her father Josh and 
younger brother Nate cheered them on.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my distinguished colleagues join me in 
recognizing Sallie and her family on her important day.

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