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For more than 55 years, the Arc of Greensboro has been a resource for those with developmental disabilities and their families.  The organization helps this community in three key ways—by publicly advocating for those with special needs, by providing guidance and employment support for the Greensboro area’s working-age adults with disabilities, and individual case management.

Leaders of the Arc, along with some of those developmentally disabled that they work with, visited the Governor’s Office this week to meet with senior staff.  I helped provide the Arc delegation with information about Gov. Perdue, her office and the Capitol building where we met. 

Our discussion with them about how the Governor’s Office works will help peel back the curtain on what can appear to a complex state government.  I hope our meeting will generate some new advocacy ideas for the ARC and will broaden the horizons for the disabled who met with us.

They are capable people who want to live happy and independent lives like everyone else.  One man we met, named Jerry Ballard, is a talented painter.  He gave us one of his paintings of cardinal, the state bird, and it will be displayed in the State Capitol.

Yesterday, I had the great fortune of meeting Mr. Robert Hess, President of the Prostate Cancer Awareness Project.  Mr. Hess, a prostate cancer survivor himself, has set out on a 48 day journey across the country to promote prostate cancer awareness.  As a strategic part of his tour, he is stopping by each state capital he travels, and talking about prostate cancer issues in that particular state.  

Mr. Hess shared that while NC has high rates of prostate cancer mortality, that we have made tremendous strides in recent years, particularly in improving the rates of screening.  In fact, according to one of the fact sheets Mr. Hess provided, NC rates a “B” grade for screenings by the National Prostate Cancer Coalition.   Further, Mr. Hess complimented the state on their policy for guaranteeing insurance coverage for prostate cancer screening – noting that we received an “A” grade in that category.   Mr. Hess spent a good bit of time talking about the importance of early detection, and in particular, cultural resistance of men to go to the doctor.  They are encouraging wives, girlfriends, moms and daughters to be a force of encouragement to get their loved ones to be screened. Like Mr. Hess and so many others ….it just might save their life.

I shared with Mr. Hess that Governor Perdue and many others in this state have made major investments in Cancer prevention, treatment and research.  Notably, I referenced our efforts through the Health and Wellness Trust Fund in lowering rates of teen smoking to an all-time low.  Further, I highlighted our state’s investment in the new Cancer Center at UNC, and Duke’s plans in the same regard.  I also cited our historic efforts to build a cancer research fund of more than $50 million dollars a year.  These critical investments are positioning NC to be a worldwide leader in the fields of Cancer research, development and treatment.

Mr. Hess left our state last night on his way through SC and GA over the next two days.  From there, he will be heading through the south, into Texas and the Southwest and eventually making his way back to California where his odyssey began.  I’d like to commend Mr. Hess for his passion in bringing awareness to such an important issue, and wish him safe travels back home.  It was a pleasure meeting you.

I’d encourage you to visit the blog that Mr. Hess is using to chronicle his trip:  http://tourdeusa2010.wordpress.com/