Support on the Hill
Hingham resident Mellie Hutchinson was one of 200 Livestrong delegates who traveled to Washington, D.C., May 16 to push for passage of the Survivorship Act of 2007, legislation recently filed to increase federal funding for cancer detection and care. Livestrong was founded by world-champion bicyclist Lance Armstrong in 1997 following his diagnosis of testicular cancer that had spread to his brain.
Hutchinson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and is now in remission. "I was pretty much blindsided," she said. "There is no history of cancer in my family." The mother of two young children, Hutchinson is a full-time advocate for cancer awareness and raises money for research and treatment through the Livestrong Foundation and the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, the annual bicycling fund-raiser. She has raised close to $12,000 for the Jimmy Fund in the challenge for the past two years, and this Aug. 4 is scheduled to ride 163 miles in two days, from Wellesley to Bourne, with thousands of other riders.
According to the American Cancer Society, Massachusetts ranked fourth-highest in the nation for incidence of breast cancer from 1999 to 2003 . "I think change is only going to occur on a grass-roots level," Hutchinson said.
The rally in Washington, she said, "was a fabulous experience. There are so many incredible stories to be heard and a lot of work to do. This is a serious issue and I don't think people can ignore it any longer. It's affecting too many people."
She also participates in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge's Pedal Partner Program, which connects young cancer patients with cyclists. For the second year, Hutchinson is scheduled to ride for Nayree Goler, 12, of Plymouth.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Maureen Walsh of Weymouth, a nurse and health teacher at St. Francis Xavier School , has received a Mariel C. Furlong Award for Making a Difference from the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network for her outstanding contributions in addressing the needs of children with food allergies, FAAN officials said. The award was presented in conjunction with Food Allergy Awareness Week, May 13-19.
Walsh was one of 13 people receiving the award this year as part of FAAN's efforts to increase awareness of food allerg ies, which afflict an estimated 12 million people nationwide, FAAN officials said. Walsh was nominated for her dedication to increasing awareness and making her school safer for children with food allergies.
"Over the years, Maureen has given of herself and touched the lives of so many children and parents alike," said Anne Munoz-Furlong, FAAN founder and CEO; the award is named for her daughter, whose food allergies as a child inspired Munoz-Furlong to start the network.
The awards were created in 1996. For more information, visit faankids.org and faanteen.org.
BUSINESS BRIEFS: Dr. Allen C. Waltman has been added to PrimaryCare Affiliates, a physician group practice affiliated with Brockton Hospital. He is board-certified in internal medicine and geriatric medicine. He previously served as director of the Geriatric Home Care Program at Tufts-New England Medical Center and is affiliated with Adams Geriatric Associates of Quincy. He sees patients in PrimaryCare sites in Randolph and Abington.
Kathy Abbott, former commissioner of the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, has joined the Trustees of Reservations as vice president for field operations. She will be in charge of the trustees' field staff and day-to-day operations of 96 reservations statewide, including properties in Hingham, Cohasset, Walpole, Canton, Milton, Plymouth, and Wareham.
Addiction Medicine Associates has opened Weymouth Medical Practice on Broad Street in Weymouth, said Dr. P.S. Kishore, founder of the group. The new practice offers sobriety maintenance, Kishore said, and "de-addiction" treatment that addresses emotional and physical addiction.
Lakeville-based Ocean Spray has launched its first line of nutrient-rich juices, called Grower's Reserve Natural Refrigerated Juices, a line containing 100 percent natural juice with no sugar added, company officials said. Six single-serve flavors in the new line include juices made with cranberry, pomegranate, mango, and strawberry, as well as combination flavors.
Judy Grabau of West Bridgewater has been named Volunteer of the Year at Brockton Hospital. During the past year, more than 160 volunteers have donated more than 22,000 hours to the hospital and patients. Hospital volunteers are instrumental in organizing the annual Champions Fighting Cancer Walk, the American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days, evening cancer screenings, blood drives, and mailings throughout the year. Grabau has been volunteering at the hospital since 1996 and serves as the contact between surgeons in the operating room and families waiting for patient updates.
Margaret Tracey, former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet , has been named the new associate director of the Boston Ballet Center for Dance Education and oversees the staff at all three Boston Ballet School studios, including the one in Norwell.
Paul E. Kandarian can be reached at kandarian@globe.com. 
