The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition Announces Event to Celebrate the 2008 Income Tax Check-Off Campaign

PHILADELPHIA, March 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) will hold a press conference on Monday, March 24 at 10:30am at the University of Pennsylvania in the Flyers-76ers Surgery Theatre on the main floor of One Ravdin Pavilion, 34th and Spruce Streets, to publicize this year's Income Tax Check-Off for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research campaign and to congratulate the eight researchers who have been selected to receive research grants.

Scheduled to speak at the event are: Pat Halpin-Murphy, President and Founder, PBCC; John H. Glick, M.D., PBCC Board of Directors, VP and Associate Dean for Resource Development, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute; Barry Cooperman, Ph.D., 2008 Grant Recipient, University of Pennsylvania; and Ed Mahlman, Chief Marketing Officer of Philadelphia Newspapers.

The Income Tax Check-Off for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research has become the most popular refund donation option in Pennsylvania since its inception in 1997, when the PBCC worked with the state legislature to enact the program. Every penny of the over $2 million that has been raised through the initiative goes directly to fund breast and cervical cancer research conducted by Pennsylvania researchers. Pennsylvanians are reminded to check line 35 on the PA 40 tax form to donate their state tax refund to help make a difference. To date, 49 research grants have been awarded.

PBCC President and Founder, Pat Halpin-Murphy, said, "The overwhelming response to this initiative demonstrates just how important finding a cure for breast and cervical cancer is to the people of Pennsylvania. It is also a testament to the exceptional researchers that we have right here in our state."

Eight researchers have been selected to receive grants in 2008. They are: Barry Cooperman, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania; Raghbir Athwal, Ph.D., Temple University; Judy Quong, Ph.D., Thomas Jefferson University; Andrew Quong, Ph.D., Thomas Jefferson University; David Feith, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; Judith Weisz, MB, BChir, Pennsylvania State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; Marius Sudol, Ph.D., Geisinger Clinic and Stella Somiari, Ph.D., Windber Research Institute.

The PA Breast Cancer Coalition represents, supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and unique outreach initiatives. The PBCC is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure now...so our daughters won't have to(C). For more information, visit http://www.pabreastcancer.org.