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| Bethany Zell |
Bethany Zell, program director for Pink Aroostook, has been named northern Maine field coordinator of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, and in January, 2015, will assume the presidency of the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition.
Zell has been program director for the local Pink Aroostook project since its beginnings in 2011. Pink Aroostook was established through a one-year grant awarded to Cary Medical Center from the Susan G. Komen Foundation Maine Affiliate. With continued hospital support and collaborations with the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition, the American Cancer Society and the Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program, Pink Aroostook helps connect residents diagnosed with breast cancer to local and national resources that may be able to assist with transportation, financial and emotional support as they undergo breast cancer treatment.
The Pink Aroostook Support Group also meets regularly at Cary Medical Center.
Founded in 1991, the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s (NBCC) mission is to end breast cancer through the power of action and advocacy. In 2010, NBCC set a deadline and launched a plan of action to know how to end breast cancer by January 1, 2020: Breast Cancer Deadline 2020. Zell has been an advocate member of the NBCC since 2012 and has attended three NBCC advocate leadership summits in Washington, D.C. These summits offer cutting edge breast cancer research updates and the opportunity to network with and learn from leaders in the breast cancer scientific and medical communities like Dr. Dennis Slamonand and Dr. Susan Love.
Zell’s new role as field coordinator will provide her a seat at the table with legislators in Washington D.C. to share the mission of the NBCC and encourage them to support critical breast cancer legislation, particularly the Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act (S. 865 and H.R. 1830)
“I have been active on the Advocacy Committee of the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition since 2012, and am so excited about assuming this leadership position with the coalition in January,” said Zell, in reference to her presidential role, which begins with the start of 2015. “Breast cancer, in fact cancer in general, is expensive! The Maine Breast Cancer Coalition Support Services Fund has given almost $1.5 million to nearly 3,000 Maine residents since the fund was started in 2000. This work is extremely important, particularly in Aroostook County where more than 11,000 people lived below the federal poverty level in 2013,” she added.
Zell is also the regional coordinator for the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery Program. In this role, she helps to connect breast cancer patients in Aroostook County who contact the Reach to Recovery program with other county survivors for support and encouragement.
Bethany resides in Caribou with her husband, James, and three daughters, Christina, Elizabeth and Emily.
The Maine Breast Cancer Coalition is a non-profit, grassroots, volunteer-based organization established in 1992. It is a statewide partnership of breast cancer survivors, health care professionals, representatives from cancer-related organizations and supporters all with the common vision of ending the disease of breast cancer.
