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Cobb-Hunter pushes for breast cancer license plate

South Carolina motorists soon may have another charitable option when it comes to selecting a specialty license plate -- one that would raise money for breast cancer prevention and patient support programs.

The House gave crucial second-reading approval Wednesday to House Bill 4903. Routine third-reading approval is expected today, Thursday, after which the legislation will be sent to the Senate.

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, a Democrat from Orangeburg, said she proposed the bill after a conversation with an agent of the State Law Enforcement Division who is a breast cancer survivor.

"She talked about other states having breast cancer license tags and asked if we could do that here," Cobb-Hunter said. "I said, 'Sure, I'd be happy to'" introduce a bill to that effect."

The bill directs the South Carolina Chapter of the American Cancer Society to submit to the state transportation department an "emblem, seal or other symbol" it would like to see on the license plates.

In addition to the usual fees, purchasers would pay $30 that would be given to the society to support three programs:

-- Tell-A-Friend. Trained volunteers contact at least five women they know -- friends, family members or acquaintances -- and encourage them to have a mammogram that could detect breast cancer early.

-- Reach to Recovery. Trained volunteer breast cancer survivors provide peer-to-peer support and information to others experiencing or concerned about breast cancer.

-- Look Good ... Feel Better. Cancer patients are taught techniques to address the cosmetic side effects of treatment.

"I thought there was a need for increased funding of these kinds of community-based programs aimed at prevention and recovery efforts," Cobb-Hunter said.

"I have always supported Relay for Life, and I have been a general supporter of the American Cancer Society," Cobb-Hunter said. "I saw this as an extension of the support I've always given them.

"I think this is an example of how important it is to talk to your legislator," Cobb-Hunter added. "If Squeak had not approached me with this idea, I don't know that I would have thought of it. The lesson is, Don't be afraid to talk to your legislator."

Eleanor "Squeak" Savage described herself as "a breast cancer survivor of four years."

"I've known Rep. Cobb-Hunter since I joined the governor's security detail. She has always been an inspiration for me as well," Savage said.

"I was wondering if we could get the ball going to get a license plate here in South Carolina, and she said it was something she would push for because it was something she believed other people would be interested in as well.

"I appreciate her dedication and her strong will to get this bill passed," Savage continued. "It was unbelievable that somebody would take such genuine interest in this and get it going so quickly."

Although breast cancer is often perceived as a women's disease, men can and do get breast cancer as well, she said.

A different bill -- H. 4976 -- incorporates the other in most respects but would give the proceeds to the Medical University of South Carolina.

The problem with that, Cobb-Hunter said, is "research dollars are out there, but these dollars (for prevention and support) are not as easy to come by."

"So far, mine is the only one that has actually been reported out of a committee and is on a calendar," she added.

A bill introduced in the Senate -- S. 821 -- parallels the House bills in most respects, but directs the proceeds to the Department of Health and Environmental Control's Best Chance Network.

While maintaining that her approach is the best one, Cobb-Hunter said she is "open to trying to incorporate ideas of the other ones into this bill" if that's what it takes to get it passed. "I think they're all very worthwhile causes," she added.

If both chambers of the Legislature approve the breast cancer awareness specialty license plate, it could be made available to vehicle owners "in a relatively short time period," Cobb-Hunter said.

She said the timing depends on how soon the society submits a design, how soon the design is approved and "how quickly they can get 400 applications" -- the standard number required before production can commence on any specialty license plate.

The American Cancer Society is supporting Cobb-Hunter's bill. "I think this is our best shot," said Nancy Cheney, the society's director of government relations in South Carolina.

"We sent out an action alert to our grassroots folks to tell them to call their House member to support this bill," she said. "This does not cost the taxpayer anything and it provides a valuable service."

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Hendren can be reached by e-mail at lhendren@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5552.