CBS Announces Ford as Sole Sponsor of 'Murphy Brown' Breast Cancer Episode
22 October 1997
CBS Announces Ford as Sole Sponsor of 'Murphy Brown' Breast Cancer Episode
Nation's Leading Automotive Company and Premier Breast Cancer Group Team Up
To Raise Breast Cancer Awareness
DALLAS, Oct. 22 -- CBS announced today that Ford Division of
Ford Motor Company will be the exclusive sponsor of the Wednesday,
Oct. 29 network telecast (8:30-9 PM, ET/PT) of "Murphy Brown," the Emmy award-
winning comedy that is featuring a highly publicized storyline about breast
cancer this season.
During the broadcast, Ford will convey important breast health information
provided by its long-time non-profit partner, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation.
While it is relatively common for specials and selected movies to be fully
sponsored by one company, it is rare for an individual episode of a prime time
series to receive such treatment.
The Ford-sponsored Oct. 29 episode will feature the character Murphy
Brown, played by Emmy Award-winning actress Candice Bergen, dealing with the
recovery process following breast cancer surgery. The episode will feature a
special message from Bergen and Nancy Brinker, founding chairman of Komen
Foundation.
Ford Motor Company has been a national sponsor of the Komen Foundation's
Race for the Cure(R) Series since 1995. Through September 1997, Ford Motor
Company and its retailers have donated nearly $2 million through national and
local contributions. The Race is the nation's largest 5K series, held in 77
cities across the country.
"Raising awareness of breast cancer issues has been a personal concern of
mine for many years," says Bergen. "It's gratifying to be able to combine the
efforts of Murphy Brown and Race for the Cure to encourage women to take
charge of their health and be aware of the many ways to detect, prevent and
treat breast cancer."
The Komen Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the
memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age
of 36. The Foundation is a national organization of volunteers working
through local chapters and Race for the Cure events fighting to eradicate
breast cancer. It is estimated that by the end of 1997, the Komen Foundation
and its affiliates will have raised in excess of $90 million in its 15-year
history. The Komen Foundation is the nation's largest private funder of
research dedicated solely to breast cancer.
"On behalf of our network of volunteers, I want to thank and congratulate
Candice Bergen, CBS and Ford Division for helping us lead the fight against
this disease," Brinker said. "Candice's portrayal will inspire and motivate
continued achievements in the fight against breast cancer."
"Ford Division is pleased to be a national sponsor of Race for the Cure
and of this episode of CBS's 'Murphy Brown,'" said Ross Roberts, Ford Motor
Company vice president and general manager of Ford Division. "Through the
efforts of the Komen Foundation and the thousands of volunteers involved in
the struggle, women throughout the country now have a chance to detect breast
cancer early in its most treatable and curable stages. We also believe 'Murphy
Brown' will help women receive lifesaving information about early detection."
According to the American Cancer Society, 180,200 women will be diagnosed
with breast cancer this year, and 43,900 will die. Research shows the
mortality rate could decrease by 30% if every woman in need of a mammogram had
one.
To obtain a MURPHY BROWN brochure that will answer basic questions about
breast cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment, contact the American Cancer
Society at 800-ACS-2345 or consult their website at http://www.cancer.org.
The Komen Foundation has a National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline
answered by trained, caring volunteers whose lives have been personally
touched by breast cancer. For immediate response to questions, local
resources and moral support, call 800-I'M AWARE (800-462-9273). In addition,
those seeking more information can visit the Foundation's new web site at
http://www.breastcancerinfo.com, one of the most comprehensive online sources of
breast health
SOURCE Ford Motor Company
