Governor Cuomo and Girlfriend Ride with “Biking for Breast Cancer Awareness”
Governor Andrew Cuomo, in office since 2011, and his girlfriend, Sandra Lee spent some time this week on their motorcycle, one of their favorite activities. They were joined by more than five dozen other bikers in their ride between Syracuse and Albany New York, all in support of a good cause. The “Biking for Breast Cancer Awareness” can always use supporters with some name power — and this is a cause the Governor and his lady deeply support.
In part, the ride was meant to spread the word about recent legislation that was passed allowing for more women in the state to get mammograms sooner and to keep it affordable. Their hope is that doing so will mean more early detection, which translates to increased chances of full recovery with less invasive and painful treatments.
Personal Brush with Breast Cancer
Talking about a recent trip the two had at the doctor’s office, Cuomo said, “When the doctors said well we’re lucky Sandy went for the test and it was caught early. It shouldn’t be about luck. This is the state of New York. It shouldn’t be about luck. We should make sure everybody has the test and gets screened…In New York State, we are taking aggressive action to expand access to screenings, reduce insurance barriers, and increase preventative services. Now there are no excuses for not getting screened — and that’s what this motorcycle ride is all about, raising awareness and saving lives.”
The new legislation provides for specified clinics and hospitals to remain open longer — at night and during weekends — allowing more women to be seen and at times they can manage. It also provides for insurance companies to waive any deductibles and copays for having the screening done.
Cuomo For the Win
For Governor Cuomo, this is a total win. He gets to be out on his motorcycle with the woman he loves, he gets to show his support for a cause possibly affecting half the population of his state and the nation, and well, let’s face it a politician is always campaigning to some degree. So he gets to put a check mark next to several items on his daily list.
Chris Burch is venture capital investor based in New York.
