GREENVILLE, PA –On Tuesday, April 29 in the nation’s capital, Connie Reinhart, Thiel College director of teacher education, and two Thiel students—Danielle Reger ’09 of Youngwood, Pa. and Heidi Snyder ’09 of Knox, Pa.—joined breast cancer advocates from across the country to lobby House Representatives and Senators on the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s (NBCC) highest priorities for legislation in 2008.

     After three days of extensive training during the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund’s Annual Advocacy Training Conference from April 26 to April 28, Reinhart, Reger and Snyder joined other breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to eradicate this deadly disease for a full day of Capitol Hill meetings. They discussed breast cancer public policy issues with Pennsylvania officials—House Representatives Phil English, Tim Murphy, Mike Doyle and John Peterson and Senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter. Reinhart, Reger and Snyder urged the legislators to support the NBCC agenda which included four policy priorities, two involving legislative action.

     The hundreds of dedicated breast cancer survivors, family and friends that attended this year’s conference in Washington, D.C. learned about the latest in breast cancer research and science, explored emerging issues in public policy and medical practice, and built and strengthened political advocacy skills. Leading scientists and researchers discussed and debated new and often controversial issues in the struggle to diagnose, treat, cure and ultimately end breast cancer.

     Reinhart has been participating in NBCC annual Lobby Days for seven years. Reger and Snyder participated in their first NBCC conference and lobby day as “Emerging Leaders.” The Emerging Leaders program invites NBCC advocates to host college students.

     The National Breast Cancer Coalition is a grassroots organization dedicated to ending breast cancer through the power of action and advocacy. NBCC’s main goals are to increase federal funding for breast cancer research; improve access to high-quality health care and breast cancer clinical trials for all women; and expand the influence of breast cancer advocates in all aspects of the breast cancer decision-making process.

Founded in 1866, Thiel College in Greenville, Pa., is a liberal arts, sciences and professional studies college related to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 

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