When Alderwoman Maureen Lewis on Monday read a City Council proclamation designating October as Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Month in St. Charles, her daughter was at her side.
When St. Charles Mayor Raymond Rogina called three women members of the City Council to the front oof the dais on Monday night, 5th Ward Alderwoman Maureen Lewis was joined by her daughter, Jennifer Crossen.
The moment at hand was a proclamation declaring October Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Month in St. Charles, and his reason for calling his three female colleagues to participate in the reading of the proclamation was obvious.
His selection of Lewis to read the document, as her daughter stood beside her, was in recognition of a struggle their family has faced over the past nine months: Diagnosed with breast cancer nine months ago, Lewis told the crowd, her daughter has tested cancer-free for two months.
A diagnosis of cancer can be frightening. Not too long ago, the odds against the patient were far greater.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year, and that the disease will result in 39,620 deaths.
Lewis said after Monday’s council meeting that she was very proud of her daughter stepping up beside her to take a stand on the fight against breast cancer.
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