I have always loved jogging and walking in the summer and fall seasons, which gives me time to really take a good look and see the neighborhood. Years ago, I would often walk past the late Assemblywoman Susan Johns’s legislative office, where the Breast Cancer Coalition office was also housed. I saw the Coalition’s sign for its annual Pink Ribbon Walk & Run and signed up to walk in the event, which was held at the Charlotte Beach area. I wore my pink T-shirt and enjoyed the scenery in the Charlotte area and the smell of the lake water.

I had walked on behalf of others in support of the Coalition prior to receiving my own diagnosis and treatment. A social worker informed me about the Coalition’s services during my treatment, and I decided to attend Gentle Yoga, Movement & Motion, and Voices & Vision.

One evening leaving the yoga class, I met then-Executive Director Holly Anderson. Long story short, I invited her to share her story on Crumity’s Corner radio show, and what a story.

Soon after, I received a phone call inviting me to Albany with members of the Advocacy Committee. I said “yes” and thought it was truly kind of the advocates to invite me on that bus ride to Albany in the chilly month of October.

During that ride, I met breast cancer survivors who were then living with metastatic breast cancer. They faced the difficult challenges with courage, passion and speaking truth to power about their health journey.

Once in Albany, we met with Assemblymembers, Senators, and their aides.

After returning to Rochester, I became an Advocacy Committee member and began the training needed to be efficient in advocating for the research needed to find not only a cure for breast and gynecologic cancer but ensuring that necessary resources are accessible to cancer survivors.

Two pieces of legislation that the Coalition supports that I have been particularly motivated to be involved with are the Beauty Justice Act (A.2054/S.2057) in New York State and the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act (H.R.2048). Advocacy is team collaboration and perseverance.

Recently, we were down to the wire advocating for the Beauty Justice Act and tried to get the bill on the Ways and Means Committee agenda. Advocates must maintain a rapport with all levels of elected officials. I made a phone call to an Assemblymember’s office and scheduled an appointment to meet with him in Albany.

While in Albany, I held a conference call with the Assemblymember and two other Advocacy Committee members in Rochester. That timely call with the Assemblymember helped us to understand ways to move the Beauty Justice Act forward. While it ultimately did not pass in the Assembly this past session, we are more informed in how to continue advocating for its passage next session.

Why do I advocate? Because I believe we have a future.