By Sarah Green
KHI News Service
Supporters gather to watch Gov. Kathleen Sebelius sign into law a bill allowing for a breast cancer research and outreach license plate. Royalties from the plates will be used for Kansas cancer programs. (Courtesy photo)
TOPEKA, April 27
A crowd of supporters watched as Gov. Kathleen Sebelius ceremoniously signed into law today a bill allowing for a special license plate to support breast cancer research.
Several supporters who attended the signing, including the bill”s sponsor, Sen. Barbara Allen, R-Overland Park, sported miniature versions of the plate on their lapels. The plate is white with a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon, a sunflower and the words “Driven to Cure.”
“We are extremely grateful and pleased to get this signed into law,” Allen, a cancer survivor, said.
The $50 royalties from the sale of each plate will go to the University of Kansas Cancer Center to fund a statewide coordinator for the Midwest Cancer Alliance and will help the cancer center obtain National Cancer Institute designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by 2015, supporters said.
Allen, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, received chemotherapy through a clinical trial not available in Kansas. One of the Midwest Cancer Alliance”s goals is to participate in such trials. The alliance also plans to provide comprehensive cancer care in rural communities to cut down on travel time and expense for cancer patients.
“Kansans deserve access to state-of-the-art cancer care right here at home with our friends and family to support us,” Allen said.
Allen said she is working to raise $10,000 from private sources to cover start-up costs. Also, 500
“commitments”
must be made from those who would like a plate. When those two conditions are met, the first plate will be struck. The plate should be available by Jan. 1, 2008.
Allen credited others who worked to support the bill, including Dr. Roy Jensen, director of the KU Cancer Center, the Kansas Medical Society and the Kansas Medical Society”s Alliance.
“This has been a group effort,” she said.
-Sarah Green is a staff writer for KHI News Service, which specializes in coverage of health issues facing Kansans. She can be reached at
sgreen@khi.org
or at 785-233-5443, ext. 118.