[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 126 (Monday, August 3, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING DEMETRES L. PARRISH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FREDERICA S. WILSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 3, 2026

  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay 
tribute to Demetres L. Parrish, a co-founder and membership chairwoman 
of the Miami, Florida Chapter of Sisters Network Incorporated.
  In 2011, Ms. Parrish, an advocate for breast cancer awareness joined 
with three breast cancer survivors to found the Miami Chapter of 
Sisters Network, Inc., a national African-American breast cancer 
survivorship organization. Its mission is to address the needs 
particular to African-American women, the underinsured and the 
underserved around the country by getting the message out that ``we 
must stop the silence about breast cancer so women can start beating 
the odds.'' The organization has since provided a strong support group 
for hundreds of women with breast cancer and survivors in South 
Florida.
  Experts estimate that about one out of every eight women born today 
will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time during her life. The 
strongest risk factor for breast cancer is age. A woman's risk of 
developing this disease increases as she gets older. However, thanks to 
the work Ms. Parrish is doing and improvements in cancer treatment and 
early detection, millions of women and thousands of men are surviving 
breast cancer today.
  Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United 
States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of 
cancer death in women, after lung cancer. The disease occurs almost 
entirely in women, but men can get it, too. Today, there are more than 
2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
  I am honored to recognize Demetres L. Parrish, a co-founder and 
membership Chairwoman of the Miami Chapter of Sisters Network, for her 
dedication and commitment to our community and the fight against breast 
cancer.

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