Columbia, South Carolina

After launching on April 26 in Washington D.C., the Komen Community Challenge made its second local stop in Columbia, South Carolina.

Did You Know?

South Carolina has one of the highest rates of uninsured women in the nation.

The Public Policy Challenge

In South Carolina nearly 3,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Breast cancer advocates challenged South Carolina policymakers to make the first-ever $1 million appropriation to the Best Chance Network (BCN), the state’s screening program for uninsured and underinsured women. The Best Chance Network which provides critical early detection services for the underserved currently only has enough funding to cover one in four eligible women. With this funding, over 4,700 additional women in South Carolina would have access to the screening and diagnostic services provided by BCN. Advocates will also work with the BCN and legislature to expand eligibility guidelines to reach more South Carolina women. This may include lowering the age eligibility from 47 to 40 and raising the income requirement from 200 percent of the federal poverty level to 250 percent.

The Event

More than 200 breast cancer survivors and activists convened for a summit luncheon at the Lace House on the grounds of the Governor’s mansion on June 11. In partnership with the Upstate SC and Lowcountry Affiliates the program featured special guests such as former SC Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum; Jan Viars; director of the Best Chance Network; State Representative Catherine Ceips and John Scott; former Director of Medicaid, Robbie Kerr; Probate Judge and breast cancer survivor Debora Faulkner. Additionally, a grantee from a free health clinic and inspirational survivors discussed surviving breast cancer without healthcare insurance.

It was a day filled with discussion, inspiration, education outreach through tours of Komen on the Go and our special brand of pink-ribbon activism - and the local media was paying attention. We received coverage on NBC, CBS, and the South Carolina News Network, as well as in South Carolina Black News, The State and The Greenville News.

Outcome and Next Steps

The Columbia Komen Community Challenge informed South Carolina decision makers of the shocking barriers that low-income and uninsured women face when seeking early detection services for breast cancer. The Challenge also highlighted the important role of the Best Chance Network in reversing this inequality. In the coming year, the Upstate and Lowcountry Affiliates of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will work with Governor Sanford and the Legislature to establish state funding for the Best Chance Network to “close the gap” in access to early detection services in South Carolina. Without a cure, early detection is key to survival!

You can join our campaign by signing our petition to Governor Sanford today!