CRFA Honors Three With Its 1999 FrontLine Awards

WASHINGTON—The Cancer Research Foundation of America (CRFA) honored a member of Congress, a journalist, and an antitobacco crusader with its 1999 FrontLine Awards.

The awards, honoring “individuals on the frontlines of communication in the areas of general cancer prevention and lung cancer prevention awareness,” were presented in a Capital Hill ceremony during a congressional briefing sponsored by the National Coalition for Cancer Research (NCCR) .

“Today’s recipients are three people whose lives and public service or communications have demonstrated a personal or professional commitment to this important mission,” said NCCR president Carolyn R. Aldigé.

Rep. Jo Ann H. Emerson (R-Mo) was recognized for her dedication to raising awareness of lung cancer after the death of her husband, Rep. Bill Emerson, from the disease in 1996. Abigail Trafford, editor of the Washington Post’s weekly health section, was honored for her continuing efforts to educate the public on cancer prevention, including lung cancer.

As an editor and syndicated columnist, “Ms. Trafford has championed the notion that the media has the responsibility to report health news with insight and a critical eye, and that the public has the right to be its own health advocate,” Ms. Aldigé said. Ms. Trafford was unable to attend the awards presentation.

Reducing Tobacco Use in Kids

William Novelli, president of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and co-founder of the public relations firm Porter-Novelli, was praised for focusing the nation’s attention on the importance of reducing tobacco use among the nation’s children.

“When the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and a few others began our association, somebody among them said, ‘We want your group to be a Tobacco Institute for the good guys’,” Mr. Novelli said. “That’s what we try to be.”