Write a Letter to the Editor

 Writing a Letter to the Editor (LTE) of your town or city's paper is a great way to spread the word about breast cancer issues and educate your neighbors about how they can help.

Letters to the editor affect public opinion, educate readers on an issue and influence public officials. They can help raise awareness about breast cancer and Susan G. Komen for the Cure's mission among elected officials, stakeholders and the public.

Remember these simple points:

• Keep it short. Check with your newspaper's editorial department on the word limit requirements. Keeping it short also means your important points won't be left out.
• Be clear. Stick to one very clear point.
• Substantiate. Support your position with facts.
• Personalize. Write about your own experience—tell why you care about theNational Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP).
• Make it local. Tell how this issue affects your local community.
• Be polite!
• Sign it. Include your name, address and telephone number. Don't forget to sign and date your letter and include your phone number. Many papers will call and confirm the author before printing the letter.
• Cite references. If possible, reference a recent news article from your local paper. While it is not necessary, it helps if you are responding to a particular story in the paper. Include the headline and date in the first or second sentence of your letter.
  

Letters to the editortell the newspaper editor that your issues are important and should be covered. A letters to the editorcampaign can pave the way for an opinion-editorial placement on your issue.

Organize your Affiliate to have your volunteers and other constituents sendletters to the editorson the NBCCEDP to local papers.

Sample Letter to the Editor

[YOUR NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]

DATE

Dear Editor,

This year in the United States alone, more than 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 40,000 women will die from this disease.

While there is no simple solution, helping women access early detection through free or low-cost screening is essential to detecting breast cancer early, when it's most treatable. The (name of local affiliate) is dedicated to making life-saving breast cancer screening available to women who need it.

Right now, Congress is deciding whether or not to reauthorize a program that could save the lives of women here in {service area or city} and across the nation - the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP).

This life-saving program provides breast cancer education, free or low-cost mammograms and follow-up care to thousands of local women who otherwise could not afford these services. You can learn more about the NBCCEDP and other breast cancer issues by visiting www.ActNowEndBreastCancer.org. This website also allows you to send a message to your Congressional Representative and Senators in support of the NBCCEDP program.

We've sent a clear message to women that early detection can save their lives. Now, we need {Representative/Senator X's} leadership to help them afford this life-saving service.

Sincerely,

{YOUR NAME}
{YOUR AFFILIATE}