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The Komen Race for the Cure may be over, but quilting continues.

May 18 is the deadline to send five-inch square fabric swatches with words of comfort and inspiration to women and men who are battling breast cancer. 

The personalized patches will be sewn together by volunteers to create colorful “Warrior Quilts” in recognition of all those who stand up to breast cancer. Thousands of quilt squares were created and collected at a “Patchwork Station” at the Ford display at this past Sunday’s Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure at Pittsburgh’s Schenley Park. The “Warrior Quilts” are part of the Neighborhood Ford Store’s sponsorship of the annual Mother’s Day event. 

Once completed, the quilts will be donated to the Pittsburgh Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to promote awareness of the disease. Last October, completed Warrior Quilts were presented to breast cancer hospitals and treatment centers in Pittsburgh, Windber, Pa., Wheeling, W. Va., and Morgantown, W. Va. The Neighborhood Ford Store also presented completed Warrior Quilts to four women in a random drawing, which will be repeated again this year.

Visit Quilt for The Cure for more information. 

 

Egypt has apparently retracted its decision not to allow Israelis to attend the 15th Annual Multidisciplinary Symposium on Breast Disease, in Alexandria, Egypt, which is sponsored Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Israel's Channel 2 reported that Egypt's Minster of Health, Hatem
el-Gabali, had rescinded invitations to Israeli physicians and scientists on Sunday to attend the symposium. 

This angered American Jews, who are have been strong supporters of Komen — considered the world’s largest breast cancer advocacy organization.

But on Thursday, Komen founder Nancy Goodman Brinker released this statement:

"Breast cancer advocates from the United States and across the Middle East are meeting in Egypt from October 21-27 for breast cancer awareness events. There have been reports that some of the invited participants would not be allowed to attend these events. Susan G. Komen for the Cure has now received confirmation that all advocates, regardless of their country of origin, are invited to fully participate in events to bring breast cancer to the forefront of public discussion in the Middle East.

"After we received the initial report on the situation, we launched a diplomatic effort to ensure they would be able to participate. I am pleased to report that our efforts led to confirmation that all advocates would be welcome to participate in the events.  

"Susan G. Komen for the Cure remains steadfast in our mission to save lives and end breast cancer forever."

Andrea Rader, Komen's director of marketing communications, told The Chronicle that Komen heard Tuesday from Israeli news reports that the invitations were rescinded. Its staff in Egypt then began using diplomatic channels to determine if the reports were true and what could be done abut it.

"Then we received assurances that all were invited," she said.

We'll post updates to YINZ/YIDZ as they come available.