Category: Crystal Bozek
Mainers Share Their Survival Stories at D.C. Cancer Relay
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2002–Anna Lyon’s last visit to this city ended with the cancer death of her father, Bill, in 1992 at George Washington University Hospital’s intensive care unit. This time, Lyon, a 44-year-old Wayne resident, was here to support cancer research at Thursday’s Relay For Life: Celebration on the Hill.
“We are all survivors who want attention from Congress, money for cancer research and most of all a cure,” Lyon said. “My dad and mother-in-law can’t be here, so I’m here for them.”
Lyon joined 3,000 other purple-clad relay community ambassadors representing all 50 states and 435 congressional districts to celebrate cancer survivorship, while telling Congress they need to do more to promote research, education and prevention of the disease. Sixteen ambassadors traveled from Maine, and 7,550 Mainers volunteered in the Maine Relay For Life. Individuals from every state walked the track around the Capitol’s reflecting pool at all times to symbolize the ongoing fight against cancer. In addition to the ambassadors, another 3,000 people also participated in the event, according to the American Cancer Society.
“The Relay For Life is all about community. We’re here from small towns throughout Maine and we’re dedicated to making a difference, and we all vote,” Lyon said.
Lyon and others gathered at the Capitol to seek to provide people with the information they need on the “non-trendy” disease. According to the American Cancer Society, 1.2 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer and 500,000 die of the disease every year, 3,000 of them Maine residents.
Andrew MacLean, a 40 year-old staff counsel and lobbyist for the Maine Medical Association, came to support his mother, who survived skin cancer, and his mother-in-law, who survived breast cancer.
“My mother-in-law lost her breasts back then,” MacLean said. “Today, with the advances we have made so far, they don’t have to take a woman’s entire breast to get rid of the disease. I hope that we can even go further.”
Strapped to MacLean’s chest, in a navy baby carrier emblazoned with gold ribbons, was his six-month-old son Cameron, another reason why MacLean is fighting for the cause.
“I’m doing this so he’s not facing the ravages of the disease,” MacLean said.
Lyon created a mural to represent cancer victims and survivors close to her group of Mainers who traveled to Washington. The picture contains a black and white lighthouse that holds pictures of cancer victims. The blue and yellow lights coming from the lighthouse have color pictures of survivors. The caption reads, “The light of hope burns brighter in the darkest night.”
At dusk, 8,000 candles were lit. The candle lighting program honored cancer survivors and remembered people lost to cancer.
Anne Palmer, a 61-year-old resident of Belfast, has been participating in Relays For Life and other American Cancer Association activities since she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1989. Palmer believes education should be emphasized because it goes hand in hand with early detection.
“My mother was president of the local American Cancer Society when I was growing up, so when I discovered a dimple over my breast I probably went faster than I would have,” Palmer said.
On exhibit were more than 125,000 signatures from cancer survivors gathered from the national tour of the American Cancer Society’s Celebration Bus, during which people signed the bus’s side panels. The bus, often called a “rolling petition,” traveled through more than 40 states, stopping in Cape Elizabeth at the Portland Head Light on Sept. 15.
Published in The Kennebec Journal and The Morning Sentinel, in Maine.
Delegates Won’t Give Up On Hathaway
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2002--A potential contract between the C.F. Hathaway Co. in Waterville and the Air Force has fallen through, leaving Maine's congressional delegation looking for ways to keep the shirt company from closing in late September.
The $5 million contract was considered crucial to keeping the company afloat and keeping 300 jobs in Maine. Now, with an uncertain future, the company is still in the running for a Navy contract of 26,000 shirts a year-- a far cry from the 386,000 shirts the Air Force deal would have brought.
Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, spoke Thursday morning with Vice Admiral Keith W. Lippert, director of the Defense Logistics Agency, to express her concern about the basis for the decision, which awarded the contract to a small Kentucky company, Ashland Sales and Service Company.
"I told Admiral Lippert I am deeply dismayed and disappointed by this decision, particularly in light of the repeated delays and ensuing confusion in this process," said Snowe in a statement Thursday. "I continue to believe that Hathaway had a strong bid that could have offered the best value to taxpayers."
Snowe, along with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, stands ready to support Hathaway should it decide to appeal. Collins said she would work to reverse the decision.
"This is a very disappointing outcome, especially following so many delays in the process," Collins said in a statement Thursday. "I will work closely…to try to reverse this unfortunate result."
Rep. John E. Baldacci, D-District 2, said he was disappointed the company wasn't selected, but expressed hope Hathaway could win future contracts. "They need to get the latest in technology upgrades and invest in the people and equipment, so they will be able to compete," Baldacci said in an interview Thursday.
Baldacci said he recently visited the Biddeford Textile plant, which manufactures electric blankets. He said he sees Hathaway prospering with a similar strategy.
Rep. Tom Allen, D-District 1, said he is optimistic that Hathaway will not fold.
"I do not think it will fold if it's purchased by the Made in the USA Foundation. I don't think [the Air Force contract] was essential to the deal," Allen said in an interview +Thursday.
The Made in the USA Foundation, a nonprofit group, is negotiating a deal to buy the struggling dress-shirt company. The Made in the USA Foundation's willingness is not contingent on Hathaway's gaining the Air Force contract, Allen said.
Baldacci's advice for the company: "Invest in people. Invest in equipment. If you don't do either, I think it makes it a lot harder."
Published in The Kennebec Journal and The Morning Sentinel, in Maine.
