Austin, Texas

Why Austin, Texas?

Austin was the tenth stop for the Komen Community Challenge, a 25-city grassroots campaign to Close the Gaps that make breast cancer deadlier for low-income women, women of color, and those with little or no insurance. Coming just weeks before voters went to the polls on November 6, 2007, the Texas Komen Community Challenge focused on closing the research gap by rallying support for passage of Proposition 15, which would provide $3 billion over ten years for cancer prevention and research.

Did You Know?

In 2007, nearly 12,000 women in Texas received a breast cancer diagnosis. More than 2,400 of them died from the disease. Low-income women have lower screening rates, are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer, and are three times more likely to die from the disease.

Did You Know?

Racial and ethnic minorities are often left out of clinical research trials, one of many reasons why breast cancer is deadlier for some women than others.

Public Policy Challenge

On February 14, 2007, the Komen Texas Affiliates held their first-ever state lobby day in Austin to educate legislators about the importance of Proposition 15, as well as to lobby for funding for the Texas Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program. The Texas Legislature later passed a first-time appropriation of $5 million for the program that provides life-saving screenings and early detection services for low-income uninsured and underinsured women in Texas. Also in 2007, Texas expanded access to Medicaid for low-income women diagnosed with breast cancer. These successes set the stage for Texas to continue to lead the way in fighting cancer. The Texas Komen Community Challenge came at the right time to help educate and turn out voters to pass Proposition 15, which would establish Texas as a national leader in cancer research and prevention.

The Events

On October 10, 2007, the Komen Texas Affiliates hosted a Komen Community Challenge Rally in Support of Proposition 15 at Stubbs Bar-B-Q in Austin. Hundreds of voters – both Democrats and Republicans – turned out for live entertainment by singer Kelly Willis and inspirational remarks by Senator Kirk Watson, Representative Patrick Rose, Cathy Bonner, Founder of KillCancer.org, and other officials. Proposition 15 proponents explained that the initiative’s passage would save the lives of more than half a million Americans each year, including 35,000 Texans. Three television stations covered the rally and Komen authored opinion editorials urging support for Proposition 15 in Austin American Statesman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and Houston Chronicle.

Outcome and Next Steps

On November 6, 2007, Texas voters passed Proposition 15, bringing $3 billion into Texas-based cancer research and programs and making the state a leader in the cancer movement. Komen activists from around the state, along with individuals representing the Lance Armstrong Foundation, American Cancer Society, and Texas Medical Association, rallied together to drive through this initiative that will fill critical gaps that cause cancer to be a death sentence for too many people. Moving forward, Komen will support efforts to educate physicians and other health care providers about grants available for research and prevention through the Texas Cancer Prevention and Research Institute established under Proposition 15. Komen will also be back before the Texas Legislature to urge sustained support for the Texas Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program until every woman has access to screening and early detection services. We need your help to build on this momentum. Please join our winning team and urge your legislators to Close the Gaps that make breast cancer deadlier for some women.