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| Posted June 30, 2005 |
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“Cure Breast Cancer” License Plate Rally
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| By Rick Winterson |
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Five years ago, Diane Connolly-Zamboni delivered a proposal to the Massachusetts Senate to create a breast cancer license plate. She died from breast cancer soon afterwards, on June 9, 2000.
Last Wednesday, June 22, Diane’s dream came true. It was a fitting date – it would have been her 45th birthday. At a rally in the Nurses Hall at the State House, the “Cure Breast Cancer” License Plate was kicked off. Now, it is a matter of getting pre-orders for 1,500 of these plates, so that production can begin.
After reviewing many programs connected with the fight against breast cancer, the Directors of The Diane Zaniboni Fund decided to give the proceeds from the license plates to Tufts New England Medical Center. Tufts is conducting research on so-called “inflammatory” breast cancer, a highly aggressive and usually fatal form of the disease. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) was what Diane Zaniboni had.
Many members of Diane’s family attended the State House rally. Her daughter, Mia, now 16 years old, said of her mother, “She was a great Mom. She did everything for everyone. I’m so happy my aunts are doing the license plates – I hope it turns out all right.”
Sen. Jack Hart and Rep. Brian Wallace spoke of their strong support of the license plate program. Dr. Rachel Buchbaum, a research oncologist from Tufts, thanked the participants and spoke of how important breast cancer research is. Mo Hanley’s group, Southie Kids Care, gave a donation of $2,800 to the Tufts research program.
(NOTE: To get one of the first 1,500 plates issued, contact Deborah A. McNeill by e-mail, debmcneill@comcast.net, or phone her at (781)229-6217 or (781)820-0199. Information can be obtained by logging onto http://www.CureBreastCancerPlate.org)
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