Vote for Candidates Who Listen and Show They Care

As a 20+ year member of the Chatham Community, I want to thank the Borough and Township for their September Ovarian Cancer Awareness Proclamations.

I was surprised to hear some are saying Proclamations don’t matter and take time away from the “business” of government when they actually provide necessary education and awareness of important issues. It’s a simple item for local governments to include in their meetings and should be part of why members run for election.

Ovarian Cancer is one of the most deadly cancers for women yet awareness is not very high. It’s highly misdiagnosed and many women suffer with symptoms for years before being treated properly. According to the National Cancer Institute, Ovarian Cancer is among the cancers that have markedly increased in patients under 50.

There is no early detection test for Ovarian Cancer so educational campaigns along with regularly seeing a doctor provide the only protection. That is why proclamations are so important. They educate and increase awareness on a local level that is more personal and community-based than even a national campaign. They help patients, survivors and the families of those lost feel seen and supported.

None of us are immune to cancer. It’s a non-partisan health issue that we can all agree needs to be cured. We should want our government and candidates running for election to support education about deadly diseases and care about health issues. Proclamations are a vital public service that can save lives.