Recognizing Edith Morgan

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to Edith Morgan, founder of the Mom-2-Mom 58 Foundation, in Miami, Florida, a support group for mothers that focuses on issues such as breast cancer, child safety and empowerment, juvenile delinquency, domestic violence and many other topics.

The Mom-2-Mom 58 Foundation is a non-profit faith-based organization that was born out of the tragic death of the late Kansas City Chief linebacker Derrick Thomas on February 8, 2000. Thomas' death was the result of a car accident; he was not wearing a seatbelt. His mother, Mrs. Morgan, felt a pressing need to get the word out to other mothers about the importance of training our children in the use of seat belts. She also realized there were other issues she wanted to address, wherein she could be of service to the community. In 2006, the Mom-2-Mom 58 Foundation started a breast cancer support group, and each year holds a fundraising walk and spa day for women with breast cancer and survivors. The goal is to empower and to encourage women with breast cancer and survivors of breast cancer.

Experts estimate that about one out of every eight women born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time during her life. The strongest risk factor for breast cancer is age. A woman's risk of developing this disease increases as she gets older. However, thanks to the work Mrs. Morgan is doing and improvements in cancer treatment and early detection, millions of women and thousands of men are surviving breast cancer today.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too. Today, there are more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

I am honored to recognize Edith Morgan, founder of the Mom-2-Mom 58 Foundation, for her dedication and commitment to our community and the fight against breast cancer.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source