BREAST CANCER AWARENESS Sunday, September 25, 2016 | wcfcourier.com | SECTION I
Beyond Pink TEAM helps out twin sisters Pink Ribbon Run is set for Saturday in C.F. GABBI DEWITT
newsroom @wcfcourier.com
People say that being diagnosed with breast cancer is like joining a sisterhood of survivors. For twin sisters, Joan Jolly and Jean Foss, going through breast cancer together as sisters, just seemed natural. “We always shared everything,” said Joan. “It just seems inevitable that we would go through cancer together, too.” In early 2016, Joan was having a routine mammogram that ended up being anything but routine. Following the mammogram she had a lumpectomy, which resulted in later having a double mastectomy when it was discovered that her entire breast was cancerous. A month later her twin sister Jean felt a lump in her breast. Jean was nervous but thankful she already had a resource for information. “It was scary at first. Could this really happen to both of us at
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the same time?” Jean reflected. “But it was also a tremendous relief — not relief, but such a support for me. I wasn’t as frightened because I wasn’t alone.” Jean credits Joan’s experience with saving her life. Jean opted to have a double mastectomy right away. When her breast tissue was tested, they found that there was a second early stage, more aggressive cancer in the breast that they hadn’t noticed in diagnostic testing. “It could have turned out so much worse,” Jean said. Once they were diagnosed, they continued to help each other. Joan had been referred to the Beyond Pink TEAM by her doctor, to help her with medical expenses that her insurance didn’t cover. She also applied for help with her utilities as she was the only income in her household. “It was such a blessing,” said Joan. “My husband can’t work, and mine is the only paycheck. Being off work, we could have lost everything.” Joan knew that her twin sister would also be off work and sug-
gested she look into the Beyond Pink TEAM, as well. Jean knew she would need help with her rent. Her landlord was her sister Joan, who was not in a position to be without rent money. “It was such a godsend. To know that I could get assistance, which in turn would help my sister, it was such a relief,” said Jean.
Pink Ribbon Run
People like Joan and Jean are the reason that over 800 participants signed up for the Pink Ribbon Run 5K last year, and why the committee is hoping even more will participate this year. The 10th Annual Pink Ribbon Run is Saturday in downtown Cedar Falls. The race will begin at 8 a.m., followed by light refreshments sponsored by Martin Brothers, race awards and door prizes. Along with being a great route to run or walk, there will be special recognition for breast cancer survivors before the race begins, and also during the program Please see PINK, Page I2
COURTESY PHOTO
Twin sisters Joan Jolly and Jean Foss are going through breast cancer together. Each was diagnosed with the disease.
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| SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
SPLASH
OF COLOR KARRIS GOLDEN
W
newsroom@wcfcourier.com
ATERLOO — The final lessons Cathy Ketton and her daughters received from her mother are marked by secrecy and loss. Through the Splash of Color breast cancer support group, they’ve resolved to ensure other families will learn from their experiences. In November 2004, Ketton’s mother asked her to feel a hard mass in her breast. Ketton did indeed feel a lump, but it was Thanksgiving weekend. She reassured her mother they’d get it checked out as soon as possible and wondered, “Could it be breast cancer?” It was. By early January 2005, her mother had undergone surgery and subsequent treatments. Ketton served as primary caregiver. Despite these efforts, her mother died having “never said the word ‘cancer,’” Ketton recalled. A year later in November 2005, her daughter Nisha Robinson, then 21, found a lump in her breast. Ketton was completely nonplussed, but she sprang to action. A year after her grandmother’s surgery, Nisha had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstructive surgery in January 2006. In November 2007, Ketton’s daughter ShanQuiesha “Shae” Robinson, then 25, found a lump in her breast. A health-care provider, Shae was frustrated that what appeared to be her familial predisposition for breast cancer hadn’t been discussed. “Why didn’t we have this information?” she asked. “Why didn’t granny say anything? Why didn’t she tell us about granddaddy?” Ketton doubted three breast cancer diagnoses in rapid succession were a coincidence. She started asking questions and digging for answers. What she learned was the family secret: Both sides of her family had a high incidence of breast cancer. “My mother was from Mississippi, and cancer is not something that’s talked about in our family,” Ketton explained. “It was viewed as a curse.” Meanwhile, Shae sought to find comfort and camaraderie in a breast cancer support group. While she found welcome, as an African-American woman in her mid-20s, she didn’t fit the group’s demographics. This was significant, because breast cancer creates issues and concerns specific to young black women and women of color in general, said Ketton. “White women are more likely to receive a breast cancer diagnosis, but black
Pink From I1
afterward. Registration for the run is $35. Online registration is available at www.beyondpinkteam.org . The Pink Ribbon Run is organized by a committee of volunteers from the community. To become a sponsor or to have a registration form mailed to you, call the Community Main Street office at 277-0213. The run is presented by Oakridge Realtors and University of Iowa Community Credit Union for the second year in a row. The support of sponsors this year means ALL race registration
women have a higher incidence of death,” she explained. Black women aged 45 and younger in particular have the highest breast cancer mortality rate, according to Sister Network Inc. “What this tells us is that black women go to the doctor and get the test, but they don’t go back to get the test results,” said Ketton. “Why? Our history. Our background is to fear this sort of information. There’s that ‘what goes on in our house stays in our house’ mindset. That perspective kills.” This knowledge and the hidden family history led Ketton and her daughters to create Splash of Color. The organization is devoted to educating and informing women of color and the broader community about how breast cancer directly affects people of color. Through regular fundraising activities, the organization also is able to provide services and support to women of color with breast cancer. Since founding SoC in 2010,
Family histories vital to early detection, treatment; Black women have higher death rates Take part Splash of Color focuses on issues and needs related to incidence of breast cancer in women of color. In particular, the group was founded to provide support to women of color who have recently been diagnosed or are in treatment for breast cancer. Membership is open to anyone, regardless of sex or race, who has an interested in specific issues faced by women of color with breast cancer. The SoC support group meets from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Waterloo Public Library on the second Thursday of February, May, August and November. Meetings are free and open to the community.
SUSAN G. KOMEN BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION
SHUTTERSTOCK ILLUSTRATION
funds go directly to helping other people. The committee has covered all expenses, thanks to sponsorships. Also returning for a second year, the committee is thankful for Community Auto as the Survivor Sponsor. As part of this sponsorship, Community Auto will cover the registration fee for any breast cancer survivor who participates in the Pink Ribbon Run. Due to the large turnout in 2015, the Pink Ribbon Run committee donated over $49,000 to the Beyond Pink TEAM. It was the largest donation to the Beyond Pink TEAM in the nine years of the Pink Ribbon Run. The committee has donated more than $221,000 to the Beyond Pink TEAM since the race’s
THE COURIER
the group has provided assistance and encouraged women to arm themselves with all the informat i o n possible. “We don’t exclude; we don’t turn anyone away,” said Ketton. “We’re designed to support any woman or man. We want to support people in any way we can.” Because of the longevity of the group, Ketton believes it’s an opportune time to “reintroduce” SoC. “It’s a good time to make ourselves more visible in the community,” she added, citing opportunities to begin education through area schools, especially to girls entering puberty. SoC has seen breast cancer diagnoses in women of color as young as 16 and several in their 20s. Typically, area hospitals provide patients with information about the group and offer to help make the connection. “You’re never too young to be informed about breast cancer,” said Ketton. “It’s not a topic we should ever be fearful of talking about.” Area churches also provide key outreach opportunities. “Our churches are where we gather,” Ketton explained. “If everyone brings Splash of Color information to the churches — what it is, what we’re doing —that will make a difference. … If you say it in church, we’ll believe it.”
The annual SoC 5K Walk that previously took place in October has been canceled this year dear to health issues in the organizers’ family. Instead, SoC will host a luncheon, fashion show and guest speaker Oct. 29. Details are forthcoming. The group also plans a Pink Ball for late March. For more details on upcoming events or more information about the group, contact Cathy Ketton, 319-493-8857 or cathy_ ketton@yahoo.com, consult CedarValleyBreastCancer.org or search “Splash of Color” on Facebook.
Hispanic/Latina women Hispanic/Latina women
have somewhat lower rates of breast cancer screening compared to other women, including non-Hispanic white women. Some findings show Hispanic/Latina women may have a higher number of barriers to getting screening mammography than women of other ethnicities. Hispanic/Latina women have lower rates of breast cancer and breast cancer mortality compared to non-Hispanic African-American and non-Hispanic white women. However, breast cancer is still the most common cancer (and the leading cause of cancer death) among Hispanic/Latina women. So, screening in these women is just as important as it is for African-American and white women. Hispanic/Latina women tend to be diagnosed with more advanced breast cancers than white women. This may be due to lower mammography rates as well as more delays in follow-up after an abnormal mammogram.
inception. All money raised by the Pink Ribbon Run, stays local and helps local families facing a breast cancer diagnosis. In 2015, the Beyond Pink TEAM put that money to work by awarding 79 grants to women in nine counties, with support that totaled over $63,000. Money from the Pink Ribbon Run is put into a fund at the Northeast Iowa Community Foundation. The Beyond Pink Fund began awarding grants in 2008. Grants are given to women or men facing a breast cancer diagnosis who are in need of assistance in Black Hawk County and surrounding counties. The assistance can be used for grocerCOURTESY PHOTO ies, gas money, utility expenses, A view of the starting line at last year’s Pink Ribbon Run. medical costs, etc.
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Sunday, September 25, 2016 | I3
Special Section 1 Broadsheet
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BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
| SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2016
THE COURIER
TEAM moves beyond ribbons MELODY PARKER
melody.parker@wcfcourier.com
Every member of the Beyond Pink TEAM has a different story to tell, but they all share something in common: Breast cancer. Every two minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, and one woman will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes. One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. It is the second leading cause of cancer death among women. For Marty Mullnix, the story is a bit different. “I am not a breast cancer survivor. No one in my immediate family has had breast cancer. But so many of my friends and in-laws have breast cancer, so it does touch my life.” So there’s that connection, but Mullnix is a veteran volunteer and fundraiser with skills honed at the American Cancer Society, the YWCA and other organizations. She knew Dee Hughes, one of the original members and president, and when she heard about the Beyond Pink TEAM’s Touch of Courage breast cancer support group, Mullnix was intrigued. “I kept thinking about this organization and decided to attend a few meetings to find out more. That was seven years ago, and now I coordinate special events and fundraising,” Mullnix explains. Last year, about 800 participants took to the streets for the annual Pink Ribbon Run and raised nearly $50,000. Those monies raised here, stay here, directly impacting breast cancer survivors in the metro area and surrounding communities, Mullnix points out. The Beyond Pink TEAM goes beyond pink ribbons and trinkets and concerns itself with practical matters –including “Taking Action, Educating, Advocating and Making a Difference” by providing local services and support and financial aid for women – and men – struggling with breast cancer, as well as advocating nationally. The nonprofit organization is the most active committee of the
Beyond Pink Support Groups & Learning Events Coming events COURIER FILE PHOTO
Kendra Shapuras, left, and Dillon Bennett near the finish of the ninth annual Pink Ribbon Run. Last year’s fundraiser for the Beyond Pink TEAM raised more than $49,000. Cedar Valley Cancer Committee and belongs to the National Breast Cancer Coalition. Shannon Closson has been involved with the Beyond Pink TEAM for three years. Her mother, Kathy Bunger, battled breast cancer for nearly 10 years and together, they became active in the American Cancer Society’s Pink Ribbon Golf Classic. After her mom’s death three years ago, Closson decided she wanted to get involved with the Beyond Pink TEAM and “do more locally and give back to people here to make a difference. Every day someone new is diagnosed and may need a little extra assistance.” Closson hosts the Kathy Bunger Memorial Benefit, a large group of family and friends who start the day with a road rally of Har-
ley Davidsons. They spend about four hours touring small towns throughout Northeastern Iowa, then gather at the National Cattle Congress Pavilion for dinner and a silent and live auction. “Mom was an avid rider with my Dad (Sid). The benefit takes place in August, and we tetter around the third or fourth weekend of the month. It’s a day for getting together and raising money, and one-third of it goes to the Beyond Pink TEAM. We’ve given between $10,000 and $15,000 since we began.” Closson and her husband Bob’s two boys, Dalton, 16, and Gabe, 13, have started their own fundraiser for Beyond Pink, “Kids Driving Out Cancer,” a kids’ only golf outing. “That was a proud moment for us,” she adds.
Scheel’s Annual Ladies Night Out This fashionable event is from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 2 at Scheels, 402 Viking Plaza Drive, Cedar Falls. Cost is $10, and participants receive a $10 gift card. Space is limited so reserve your spot today! Stop in to customer service, call Ashley at (319) 277-3033 ext 2200 or email aeungs@scheels. com to purchase tickets. Proceeds benefit the Beyond Pink TEAM. W.O.W. Ride to Support Breast Cancer Awareness The Wheels on Wednesday bike ride is from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. Oct. 5, beginning at the Cedar Valley Cyclists Green Space, Fourth and Main streets, in downtown Cedar Falls. Registration is $25. For details, visit cvcbiketobeatcancer. eventbrite.com. All proceeds benefit the Beyond Pink TEAM.
Touch of Courage Breast Cancer Support Group: Meets the first Monday of each month (unless a holiday, then the following Monday) at 1:30 p.m. in the Kimball Ridge Center, 2101 Kimball Ave.. Contact Pat Buls at 232-8691 for more information. Splash of Color Breast Cancer Support Group: For women of color meets the second Thursday of February, May, August and November from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Waterloo Public Library, 415 Commercial St., Contact Cathy Ketton at 4938857 for more information. Young Cancer Survivors: Meet, Mingle and Learn is an educational event for all young (and young at heart) women with any type of cancer. It takes place the third Tuesday of January, April, June and September at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3912 Cedar Heights Drive, Cedar Falls. Contact Gabbi DeWitt at 292-2225 for more information.
Doctor, nurse who survived breast cancer share advice AMIE STEFFENEICHER
amie.steffeneicher@ wcfcourier.com
CEDAR FALLS — Breast cancer can happen to anyone — even someone who had no risk for the disease, like Dr. Suzy Lipinski. The physician at Partners in OBGYN, part of Covenant Medical Center, didn’t have any family history of breast cancer and was 39 and healthy. When her chest ached after doing pushups in December 2011, she rubbed her sore muscles out and felt a solid lump. “So I called the Breast Center, but really wasn’t particularly worried,” Lipinski said. It was a good thing she got screened: An ultrasound revealed “funny features” on the offending lump, and a biopsy showed it was, indeed, cancerous. Lipinski had surgery over the Christmas holiday to remove the lump, and worked a reduced schedule so that she could undergo radiation. Because it was caught early, chemotherapy was not needed for her particular cancer. Trusting her instincts to get checked out paid off — and she said other women should trust theirs. “Mine caught at Stage 1 made a very minimal impact on my life,” she said. Not everyone is so lucky. Lipinski’s coworker, Jacque Bakker, a registered nurse at Partners in OBGYN, was diagnosed with breast cancer on Nov. 25, 2009, and underwent chemotherapy from January to June 2010. She had radiation treatments until March 2011. Bakker began going to
known to tell my patients about,” she said. “Because “I knew then that there were I went through it myself, it taught me.” types of breast cancer that And though certain peodid not have good treatments. ple will have a genetically higher risk of having breast I gotta help push for good cancer through no fault of treatments for all breast their own, there are still ways to lower it, said Lipcancers ... because far too inski. many people are still dying.” “Those that are at high risk can reduce their risk by Jacque Bakker, a registered nurse at doing things like maintainPartners in OBGYN ing a healthy weight, reducAMIE STEFFENEICHER, AMIE.STEFFENEICHER@WCFCOURIER.COM ing their alcohol use, reducing tobacco use, exercising Dr. Suzy Lipinski, left, and Jacque Bakker, RN, at Partners regularly,” she said. “Having in OBGYN at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo. Both don’t drain properly. to your skin, not being able healthy habits going into it contracted and have been treated for breast cancer in the “Some of those unique to wear underwire bras is going to reduce your risk, past. aspects — what happens — things I wouldn’t have even if you’re high risk.” a quarterly support group “I gotta help push for good through the Beyond Pink treatments for all breast TEAM called Young Survi- cancers ... because far too vors at the beginning of her many people are still dying.” chemotherapy treatments. Both Bakker and Lipinski It proved to be an emotional say there are things they godsend right when she wish they would have known needed it. before being diagnosed. “The first person I saw Bakker said, once somewhen I walked in there iden- one is diagnosed, they tified herself as a five-year should not be afraid to ask survivor, and she had the their doctor all of their same kind of breast cancer questions. And, if they I had,” Bakker said. “It made want to try, they should ask me feel so much better. I if there are any clinical trials thought, ‘You know what? they can participate in. “I, myself, asked about a If I keep surviving this, I’m gonna keep coming here,’ clinical trial,” Bakker said. because I appreciate all “I think that was a helpful these people who were years thing for me. I think they should always ask, ‘What out and kept supporting.” Bakker’s done just that, are my treatment options but gone even further: She’s now?’ — and once they’re supported the Beyond Pink done with chemotherapy.” TEAM as a donor and adBakker said it was also vocate, lobbying legisla- important to “know their tors and attending national breasts well,” and if somesummits to learn more and thing has changed, report it spread awareness about the to their doctor right away. need for research funding Lipinski said she wasn’t aware of the different asfor breast cancer. “I knew then that there pects of treating breast canwere types of breast can- cer — like needing special cer that did not have good bras or compression sleeves, 00 1 treatments,” Bakker said. or what to do if lymph nodes
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
THE COURIER
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2016 |
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Torres focuses on advocacy, education to end breast cancer CHRISTINIA CRIPPES
christinia.crippes@ wcfcourier.com
Understanding breast cancer diagnosis
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Whether it’s October or not, breast cancer is one of the most recognized cancers in the world. Thanks to massive public awareness campaigns, nearly everyone understands the significance behind a pink ribbon, but how many can say they have breast cancer knowledge beyond pink? The truth is, breast cancer is extremely complex and not a one-size-fitsall disease. It’s classified into different types based on the unique biology of each tumor, including the size, whether and where it’s spread, how it looks under the microscope and what’s causing it to grow at the cellular level, according to the American Cancer Society. Understanding the various biological features is critical, as they help determine treatment decisions and directly affect patient outcomes. As breast cancer survivor Pamela Cunningham knows all too well, knowledge is power when navigating a breast cancer journey. When diagnosed with Stage II HER2-positive early breast cancer, an aggressive type of the disease, Cunningham said that while she understood there were different stages, she was shocked to discover there were so many different types. In fact, her mother had faced breast cancer several
years earlier and neither Cunningham nor her father knew what kind her mother had. To better understand her diagnosis, she talked with friends who had faced similar situations and even sought a second opinion. After learning more, Cunningham felt confident in her decision to receive a treatment regimen that helped shrink her tumor prior to undergoing surgery to remove it. “I’m really thankful I went the way I did,” Cunningham said. “I would advise other women to do their own research, find out the available treatments and don’t be afraid to ask your doctor about all of your options and possible side effects.” Cunningham and her oncologist, Dr. Karen Tedesco of New York Oncology Hematology, offer the following tips to help patients more fully understand how to approach a breast cancer diagnosis. 1. Strength in numbers: The news of a cancer diagnosis can be incredibly overwhelming to patients and their loved ones. Make the most of the first few doctor appointments by bringing a friend outside of
the immediate family to ensure the information is being absorbed and the right questions are being asked. 2. Build a support team: In addition to family and friends, it’s important to have a strong health care and surrounding support team. Seek out nurse navigators, local breast support groups and financial assistance to ensure you’re properly informed and have all the resources you need. Do not hesitate to consider a second opinion until you feel 100 percent confident in your health care team and treatment plan. 3. Understand your diagnosis: Learning about your specific type of breast cancer is essential because the unique biology of your tumor can directly impact your breast cancer journey. Knowing the four S’s — stage, size, status and subtype —of your tumor can help you better understand your diagnosis and the treatment options available to you. 4. Ask questions, then ask more: Consider asking your doctor the following questions: Are you eligible for clinical trials? Are there special treatments geared toward your specific type of breast cancer? Do I need surgery? Does surgery have to be the first step? Being actively involved can help ensure each patient receives the best treatment option for them. For more tips to take on a breast cancer diagnosis and to better understand the four S’s, visit gene.com.
CEDAR FALLS — You have to pick your causes. That’s a mantra that Kristin Teig Torres teaches to students at Wartburg College as assistant director of the Center for Community Engagement and service-learning coordinator. It’s also one she lives by with her advocacy to end breast cancer. “I get that it’s not all my responsibility, but I have responsibility,” said Torres. “The more people we have working on the problem, the better off we’ll be.” Torres first took up the cause of ending breast cancer in 2009 when she was diagnosed with the disease. But she really ramped up her efforts in honor of her friend Anne Christensen Doyle, who passed away in 2012 from breast cancer. “Because of her work, I just thought, ‘She died trying to make a difference and trying to end breast cancer,’ so I went to my first (National Breast Cancer Coalition leadership) summit the year after she died,” Torres said. So, for the past three years Torres has immersed herself in just about every aspect to end breast cancer. She has learned the science of the disease; she has explained its complexities to people; she has pushed legislation aimed at ending the disease; and she has helped organize events to bring awareness and advocacy to the Cedar Valley, among others. Torres regularly goes to Washington, D.C., to advocate for the NBCC’s Deadline 2020 legislation that would reduce barriers to research so breast cancer can be curable in four years. She also takes leadership classes like Project LEAD to be a better advocate here at home. Most of those trips are on her own dime, but the local Beyond Pink TEAM does dedicate a small portion of its funds to the NBCC work at the nation’s Capitol. Her work hasn’t gone unnoticed by other advocates in the region. “Whenever Beyond Pink TEAM needs an emcee for an event, a star in an infomercial, or someone to articulate our message on TV and social media, Kristin is our go-to advocate,” said Christine Carpenter, advocacy chair of the Beyond Pink TEAM. “She never
MATTHEW PUTNEY / COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
Kristin Teig Torres advocates for Beyond Pink, which seeks to advance the goals of the National Breast Cancer Coalition.
“I get that it’s not all my responsibility, but I have responsibility. The more people we have working on the problem, the better off we’ll be.” Kristin Teig Torres disappoints.” Carpenter praised Torres for her “considerable” knowledge about the science of breast cancer, her professional theater skills and her passion, and described them as assets to Beyond Pink TEAM. Torres’ knowledge and passion are evident after only a few minutes talking with her. She’s open about her diagnosis, her treatment and what being cancer-free means to her, and explains it with both depth and in easy-to-understand language. She casually explains what cancer is — “over-replication of a gene” — and lists its types, as well as rattling off statistics, like that 40,000 people will die from the disease this year. But she isn’t clinical in her descriptions. Like most National Breast Cancer Coalition
advocates, she knows the importance of explaining the human impact of cancer and its treatment. “What the Project LEAD also trains people to do is to critically look at research that’s coming out and make sure that it’s really going to be advantageous for patients. Especially as consumers, we want the best for our lives, and to end the disease,” Torres said. Torres is optimistic that the 2020 goal of finding a cure for breast cancer is possible. But she also knows it’s going to take a larger group of people working to end the disease and having the knowledge to understand it’s possible. She said it’s a “nobrainer” for people to support the end of breast cancer, but there’s often little action that follows unless its impact hits home. Torres acknowledges the knowledge of the disease and its pernicious ways of destroying the body by migrating to the bones, brains, lungs or liver can be overwhelming. But she also knows that knowledge is power. “I’m not going to turn my eye to this problem. I would rather have us be informed citizens and do something and whatever we can to educate,” Torres said. “We can’t be a nation of people who just sit and let problems pass them by.”
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I6 | Sunday, September 25, 2016
Special Section 1 Broadsheet
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