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Community Corner

Esophageal Cancer Awareness Grant Issued from State of Rhode Island

The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation has received a legislative grant from the State of Rhode Island, which was obtained through the suggestion of Rhode Island Representative Patricia Serpa.  The grant will allow the charity to fulfill its mission of raising awareness, encouraging early detection and funding research of esophageal cancer. 

The Salgi Esophageal Cancer Research Foundation was founded on November 21, 2011, in memory of President Linda Molfesi’s father, who passed away from esophageal cancer.  In less than three years, 12 medical research facilities from across the United States have sought funding for their research of esophageal cancer. 

President of The Salgi Foundation, Linda Molfesi, said “esophageal cancer research is extremely underfunded and does not receive the research money it deserves from the government or other charities.”

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In fact, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) decreased its investment in research of esophageal cancer by 15% in 2012; esophageal cancer receives a mere $28.0 million out of NCI’s total $5.07 billion budget; that’s approximately half of one percent.   

While The American Cancer Society currently funds 1,165 cancer research projects, only 8 of those funded  projects are for esophageal cancer research.  

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Esophageal cancer diagnosis has increased over 600% in the past decades.  "We feel this can be attributed to three things:  a lack of public knowledge of the risk factors associated with esophageal cancer (such as chronic heartburn), absolutely no standard or routine screenings to detect esophageal cancer in its earliest stages, when it can be treated and this major lack of research funding." 

Molfesi stated "we are very close to issuing our own grant for esophageal research" but stresses the importance of support. "As a nonprofit, we rely on the generosity of the public and our community to support this mission and, most importantly, get these research facilities the funding they deserve."  

“We are very thankful to Representative Serpa for all of her support,” Molfesi continued, “since the very beginning, she believed in this mission and in our abilities to fulfill these goals.”  Representative Serpa has also worked with The Salgi Foundation to have April proclaimed Esophageal Cancer Awareness month in Rhode Island for the past three years.  

For more information or to make a donation, please visit:  www.salgi.org

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