Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program Honors Advocates for Carrying Messages of Prevention

Department of Defense, Olympian, Journalist and Congressional Spouse Receive Awards at 21st Annual Bipartisan, Bicameral Luncheon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 25, 2013

MEDIA CONTACT:
Monique Smaby
(703) 837-3697
Monique.Smaby@preventcancer.org

(Alexandria, Va.) — The Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program honored journalist Andrea Mitchell, Olympian Shannon Miller, congressional spouse Landra Reid and the Department of Defense’s Healthy Base Initiative at the annual Action for Cancer Awareness luncheon on November 19 on Capitol Hill. The program’s signature event recognizes the activities of congressional spouses, members of Congress, media representatives and other advocates for their work in cancer education, awareness and prevention. Fox News Channel’s Jennifer Griffin served as the event’s master of ceremonies.

Each of the honorees were recognized for their outstanding contributions to health and cancer prevention using their respective platforms to advance the cause. The event attracts Washington’s strongest cancer prevention advocates. This year’s attendees included numerous members of Congress including Sens. Harry Reid and Patrick Leahy, and Reps. Nancy Pelosi, John Dingell, Jim McGovern and Ander Crenshaw, to name a few. Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero attended with his wife Laura Denise; other foreign diplomatic spouses included Lady Susie Westmacott of England, Rosa Djalal of Indonesia and Laura Medina-Mora of Mexico, among numerous others.

This unique awards luncheon enjoys strong bipartisan and bicameral support. For one-hour members and spouses join together to renew the commitment to Stop Cancer Before it Starts!

• NBC and MSNBC News Anchor Andrea Mitchell—awarded the Distinguished Service in Journalism Award. Following her breast cancer diagnosis, Andrea shared her personal story with the public and turned her experience into a call to action to bring awareness to screening and early detection. For more than three decades, she has worked with numerous organizations to help raise awareness and funds for breast cancer.
• Landra Reid — awarded the Congressional Families Leadership Award. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was on hand as his wife advocated for supporting cancer research. Landra was nominated by a bipartisan group of both House and Senate spouses. Her breast cancer diagnosis brought her directly into the spotlight and put her on a platform to educate others on cancer prevention.
• Seven-time Olympian Gymnast Shannon Miller—awarded the Excellence in Cancer Awareness Award. Shannon remains most decorated gymnast of all time. She was diagnosed and successfully treated for a rare form of ovarian cancer, she uses her visibility to advocate for cancer awareness, early detection and to help women make their health a priority.
• Department of Defense’s Healthy Base Initiative—awarded the Special Recognition Award. This new initiative is aimed at educating military and civilian personnel — and families — on healthy life habits. To help combat obesity and tobacco use, the Office of Military Community and Family Policy (Office of the Secretary of Defense) this year piloted the Healthy Base Initiative on 14 military instillations to encourage good nutrition, active lifestyles and tobacco-free living.

About the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program

The Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program began in 1991 as a partnership between the Prevent Cancer Foundation and the Congressional Club, a bipartisan organization of spouses of Members of the House, the Senate, Cabinet and Supreme Court. Spouses active in the program share an interest in advancing cancer prevention, early detection and education. For more information, visit the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program page.

About the Prevent Cancer Foundation

The mission of the Prevent Cancer Foundation is to save lives through cancer prevention and early detection. Founded in 1985, the Foundation has provided more than $134 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education, advocacy and community outreach nationwide. For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.