[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 2, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING END THE SILENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 2, 2009

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and 
congratulate End the Silence upon being awarded with the ``Community 
Health Champions Award'' at the 2009 West Fresno Health Care 
Coalition's 5th annual ``This is Your Life of Service'' lunch and 
awards ceremony. This year the ceremony will be held at the Radisson 
Hotel Conference Center in Fresno, California on Tuesday, November 3rd.
  End the Silence is a breast cancer awareness project that has been 
created as a community-based program specifically designed for 
targeting the African American community, especially in West Fresno, 
California. The goal and purpose is to increase education, promote and 
heighten awareness, create support services and resources for the 
underserved African American population in West Fresno regarding breast 
cancer and overall breast health.
  The need for End the Silence was discovered when national, state and 
local statistics were pointing to the high risk of African American 
women developing, and dying from, breast cancer. Studies have shown 
that African American women are more likely to pass away from breast 
cancer than white women. Further, the National Cancer Institute found 
that breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among African 
American women. This reality is often due to economic, social and 
cultural factors; including misinformation about breast cancer, 
treatments and lack of access to health which ultimately leads to late 
diagnosis.
  End the Silence targets West Fresno's underserved and underinsured 
African American community. Over the span of the project, the 
organizers intend on reducing high breast cancer mortality risk. They 
expect to serve more than three hundred African American women and 
their families who will benefit from program services, including 
culturally competent and trained staff and advocates, specialized 
support groups and services, culturally appropriate health education, 
materials and resources and the opportunity for making their voices 
heard through advocacy activities. Five people that have made End the 
Silence successful are Charyce Haynes, Wilma Ruth Johnson, Edna 
Overall, Frances Davis and Adrian Carter.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate End the 
Silence upon being award the ``Community Health Champions Award.'' I 
invite my colleagues to join me in wishing End the Silence many years 
of continued success.

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