This Mother’s Day, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara (D-Rotterdam) is joining forces with the Adelphi New York Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program and local advocates to remind the important women in our lives to schedule a mammogram.

“Mother’s Day is a special time we set aside to recognize and celebrate one of the most important women in our lives, so it makes sense that we would use this opportunity to keep them healthy. Reminding your mom or another special woman in your life to take advantage of a preemptive health screening is one of the best gifts you can give this Mother’s Day,” said Assemblyman Santabarbara. “I extend my thanks to Adelphi and our local support groups for working hard to keep our friends and family healthy.”

For more information about breast cancer and to locate a nearby mammography facility, call the Adelphi statewide hotline at 800-877-8077 or visit adelphi.edu/nysbreastcancer.

The Adelphi hotline is a project of the Adelphi University School of Social Work, which has been able to provide free services for more than three decades with the support of the state Legislature. This year’s state budget includes continued funding for the Adelphi breast cancer program.

In the 111st Assembly District, the Cancer Services Program of Fulton, Montgomery & Schenectady Counties is helping to organize free breast exams and mammograms for women who don’t have health insurance at St. Mary’s Healthcare on May 15th from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Women interested in these services must call (518) 770-6814 and pre-register by May 13.

“Mother’s Day is right around the corner and National Women’s Checkup Day is coming up, so now is the perfect time to let an important woman in your life know that you care by encouraging her to receive or schedule a checkup. Early checkups and screening tests, like a mammogram, can reveal life-threatening diseases early on when they’re much easier to treat,” said Suzanne E. Hagadorn, Health Education & Promotion Coordinator for the Cancer Services Program of Fulton, Montgomery & Schenectady Counties. “Women often forget to focus on their own health, so now is the time to show a woman you love them by giving them an important gift – a healthy life you can enjoy together.”

As a strong advocate for women’s health issues, Assemblyman Santabarbara this year helped pass a budget that includes funding for the Adelphi breast cancer program. In addition, he proudly supported a new law that provided additional funding to map incidences of breast cancer in New York State (Ch.106 of 2013). This mapping method helps health organizations to better understand the disease, who it’s affecting and how they can combat it.