June 2018 Message from MBCC Executive Director

Dear Friends in Prevention,

As we approach the halfway point in the year, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) continues to be hard at work on our goal to promote a better understanding of the link between toxic exposures and breast cancer. We have been privileged to work hand-in-hand with concerned citizens in Massachusetts, all with one thing in common: they have been touched by cancer and are drawn to our unique mission of prevention. These citizens want to minimize their exposures to toxic chemicals and look to us for both information and guidance about how they can make changes to protect themselves and their families.

Through the MBCC Webinar Series, we continue to host top scientists in their fields to share research updates and insights, like the recent webinar on highly fluorinated chemicals in drinking water. Our award-winning Let’s Talk Prevention: Reducing Toxic Exposures program and tour continue to expand its reach across Massachusetts. The tour has now been hosted in over 130 venues, providing the community with vital health information on chemicals of concern and exposure reduction. Additionally, our newly developed environmental health program for high school students has been well-received as teachers across the state downloaded the classroom modules. Through funding from the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI), MBCC has also had the opportunity to work directly with students in the classroom over the past couple of months and is honored to be recognized as a “Champion of Toxic Use Reduction” at an event hosted by TURI at the Massachusetts State House on June 12th. Inspired by the feedback we’ve received, MBCC continues to work with scientists and educators to add additional classroom modules for the 2018 – 2019 academic year and will look to roll-out similar environmental health education programs for both middle schools and elementary schools in 2019.

MBCC looks forward to the upcoming Against the Tide events on June 16th in Hopkinton and August 18th on Cape Cod, as these inspiring events bring together citizens from all across the Commonwealth to show their support of our unique mission of prevention. On August 19th, the MBCC Team will once again take part in the New Balance Falmouth Road Race. Each year our Road Race Team is made up of exceptional individuals who train for this challenging race and raise funds on our behalf. Together with the Against the Tide events, funds raised by the MBCC Road Race Team go a long way in helping MBCC to serve as an invaluable bridge between research and medical communities to educate our citizens while advocating for the policy changes necessary to protect the health of our children, grandchildren, and future generations.

We look forward to a busy summer ahead and hope you will join us in Hopkinton, Brewster, and/or Falmouth.

With deep gratitude,