RVA Volunteer Opportunity!

VBCF's Board President Susan Siegel and Secretary Jacqueline Ford-Condelli, both breast cancer survivors, volunteered at Remote Area Medical (RAM) Emporia to share breast health info with attendees. 

Support the July 2016 Becky’s Place at RAM Education Tent

VBCF volunteers will host the Becky’s Place education tent at the Remote Area Medical (RAM) Clinic in Wise County July 21st-23rd. This clinic is the largest RAM held in Virginia and gives thousands of people what is perhaps their only opportunity to go to the doctor or dentist for the entire year. Please consider making a donation in support of Becky’s Place to VBCF to help our volunteers provide cancer and chronic disease health education in far southwest Virginia.

Now Accepting Orders for Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Want to help educate your local community about breast cancer? Beat the rush and place your orders now for our Breast Health Basics Brochures (with removable Pink Ribbon) and other supplies. Order now.

GSK/Clinical Trials

Do you have advanced or metastatic breast cancer? Is your cancer estrogen-receptor positive (ER-positive) and HER2-negative? See if you qualify to participate in about an ongoing clinical trial to study the safety and efficacy of an investigational medication. Qualified participants will receive study-related treatment and medication at no cost. See if you qualify. 

MyPatientRights.org

Have you had issues with your health plan? You have the right to file a complaint. Visit mypatientrights.org to learn more about your rights and how to file a complaint in Virginia.

Summer Advocacy Action

Thanks to Delegate Lamont Bagby for meeting with representatives of the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation including Nichole Hayes, 74th district constituent and volunteer advocate! We appreciate your time as we shared our priority issues including support for medical marijuana to ease cancer treatment side effects. Learn more about our priorities and how to get involved at  www.vbcf.org/our-priorities.

District Visits with State Legislators

VBCF has meetings set with several more Virginia state legislators this summer including: Delegate Aird (63rd) and Senators Deeds (25th), Dunnavant (12th), Howell (32rd) and Sturtevant (10th). The focus of the meetings will include discussion of VBCF’s priority issues of medical marijuana and step therapy. If you are interested in attending a meeting, please contact Kirsta Millar, Policy Manager, at [email protected].

 

National Advocacy Day

VBCF volunteer advocates traveled to Washington DC on May 23rd to participate in NBCC’s National Lobby Day.  Advocates met with staff from several Virginia legislators including Senators Kaine and Warner; Representatives Beyer (D-8th); Comstock (R-10th); Connolly (D-11th); McEachin (D-4th), Scott (D-3rd); Taylor (R-2nd) and Wittman (R-1st) to discuss key policy priorities related to breast cancer. To get the latest on Congress’ attempts to reform the health care system, please visit VBCF’s Facebook page.

Update on Getting New Drugs to Cancer Patients Faster

Vicky Carr, VBCF Advocacy Committee member, attended the “Accelerating Anti-Cancer Agent Development and Validation Workshop” this May in Bethesda, MD.  AAADV is an annual workshop, run by the FDA (Federal Drug Administration) and brings together leaders from cancer research centers, drug companies, the FDA, and cancer patient groups to focus on one mission: to speed safe and effective cancer treatments to patients.   Read Vicky’s workshop summary and highlights on our Advocacy page.

Learn More!

Check out upcoming local, state, and national educational live and online events featured on our Calendar of Events.

Thank You!

VBCF’s volunteer Peninsula Chapter hosted the 24th annual “In the Pink” Luncheon and Fashion Show on April 8th to benefit VBCF. In addition to the fashion show, attendees enjoyed a silent auction and quilt raffle. Thank you to all the Peninsula Chapter volunteers who made this event so successful!