TOPSHAM – The Maine Leadership Award for breast health was presented at the ninth annual silver tea hosted by first lady Karen Baldacci at the Blaine House in Augusta on Oct. 7 as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The year 2004 marks the 20th year of National Breast Cancer Awareness month.

This year’s recipient was Robin Long of Bangor, who was recognized for her leadership role in advocating for the breast cancer needs of Maine women.

Long is assistant director of the Women’s Health Initiatives Department at the YWCA of Bangor-Brewer, which manages Caring Connections. Caring Connections is an affiliate of Eastern Maine Medical Center and a program that provides educational services, no-cost screening to underinsured women, and support groups for women with breast cancer.

In her position, Long provides community breast health, cervical health, and osteoporosis education through facilitating both breast cancer and osteoporosis support groups, and the administration of no-cost breast and cervical health screening programs.

Since 1996, Long has served as the volunteer co-chairwoman of the Lesbian Health Project, helping coordinate a wide variety of events and clinical services designed to increase access to quality health care for lesbians. She designed an innovative brochure titled, “If You Are a Lesbian . . .You Are At Risk for Breast Cancer, Too.”

Since its creation, thousands of copies of this brochure have been distributed in Maine and throughout the nation. She also created an educational videotape, “Meeting the Health Care Needs of Lesbians in Maine,” for health care practitioners who serve lesbian patients.

The Maine Leadership Award for Breast Health, created in 1998, is a collaborative effort of the American Cancer Society, the Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program, the Maine Cancer Foundation, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Maine Affiliate, and the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition.

The Leadership Award is given annually during the month of October to recognize a Maine woman or man who has made an exceptional contribution to promoting breast health, improving understanding of breast cancer or working toward the elimination of the disease at the national, state or local level.

For information on the American Cancer Society, call 373-3702.