[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 4, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF BARBARA SCHIANDRA FOR HER EFFORTS IN PITTSTON, 
            PENNSYLVANIA ON BEHALF OF BREAST CANCER RESEARCH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 4, 2015

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Barbara Schiandra 
who is to be named Person of the Year by the Greater Pittston Sunday 
Dispatch. In October 2014 Ms. Schiandra organized one of the biggest 
fundraisers in the history of Pittston, Pennsylvania. Over the course 
of four days, Ms. Schiandra raised both awareness of breast cancer's 
toll and the importance of its prevention and $30,000 for breast cancer 
research--all during the first annual and very successful Paint 
Pittston Pink event.
  It was Ms. Schiandra's own experience that led to this remarkable 
achievement. She was pregnant with her youngest son when she discovered 
her own cancer. At only 34 years old she was diagnosed with a highly 
aggressive type of cancer with a high recurrence rate. After she began 
chemotherapy, she learned that she qualified for a clinical trial of a 
vaccine at the University of Pennsylvania sponsored by the Pennies in 
Action Fund, the eventual beneficiary of her community work.
  Initially, the plan for Paint Pittston Pink was to utilize breast 
cancer awareness flags to line Pittston's Main Street during the month 
of October. Paint Pittston Pink quickly grew into a much larger event, 
attracting hundreds of people and a host of local businesses. The 
ColorMePink 5K and Caped CURE-Sader Family Fun Walk drew over 500 
participants to Downtown Pittston. At the end of the four days, Barbara 
and her team presented a check for $30,000 to the University of 
Pennsylvania Pennies in Action Fund to support its cancer research. 
Greater Pittston, and all those affected by cancer, were highly moved 
by her efforts.
  I congratulate Ms. Schiandra on being named Person of the Year by the 
Greater Pittston Sunday Dispatch, and I applaud both her inspirational 
personal courage and her heroic efforts to fight cancer. With efforts 
like Barbara's, we will one day fully beat this disease.

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