Mission Green Light

October 25, 2007

By NANCY BURHOP Contributor

Having lost his beloved grandmother, his teacher and a close friend to cancer, Glenview resident Rafi Munim has become a crusader for early cancer detection and treatment.

Suffering from a crippling form of arthritis which started when he was 11 years old, Munim has had many battles of his own to fight. He came to the United States from his native Pakistan for treatment 13 years ago, and the help he received here has made him want to give something back to his adoptive country.

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Since 1995, Munim has lived in the Glenview Terrace Nursing Home, where he receives therapy and care to help him recover from his many surgeries. Just 38 when he moved in, he was at least 30 years younger than most of the other residents, and the lone Muslim in a predominantly Jewish nursing home.

"My elderly friends here -- some of them survived the Holocaust -- have given me the courage to pursue my dream," Munim said.

He wanted to help other people, perhaps even save someone's life. "But my resources are limited," he said. "So I prayed for guidance, my friends encouraged me, and God gave me a green light to go ahead. Thus began Mission Green Light, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) and designed to reach out to low-income, uninsured women, help them learn the signs of cancer, plus direct them to where they can get help if they need it.

Munim first created a poster, which encourages women to take advantage of the breast and cervical cancer detection and treatment programs available through the Illinois Department of Public Health. He will provide the posters to anyone willing to post them where women can see them. They can be ordered on-line at mgl@missiongreenlight.org.

Realizing that early detection is vital to cancer survival, Munim then had an idea for a way to reach out to women too young for the health department programs -- find women who were not insured, and put them in touch with physicians who could teach them how to do self-breast exams, so that they in turn could then teach other women.

After many phone calls, Munim connected with the Rev. Miguel Martinez of Maryville Church in Des Plaines and the Rev. Jack Hurley of St. Cecelia in Mt. Prospect. Both churches have large populations of low- income, under-insured women, primarily Hispanic, representing 27 suburbs, and both priests were willing to encourage their members to enroll in the Mission Green Light training program.

"It was not hard for Rafi to convince me," said Martinez. "My mother went through cancer treatment. This was a wonderful opportunity for women to get educated about cancer. There is such a need, especially among poor women. We made announcements after masses during the summer, and we would like to do it again. The women who received the training are very grateful."

Finding doctors to run the program also took quite a few telephone calls, but Munim made the right connection when he contacted Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Dr. Charity Alikpala and Dr. Greg Kirschner made this their community outreach program for 2007, instructing the first class of 110 Mission Green Light volunteers in September. All of the women were examined by a physician, and then individually trained in breast self-examination and cancer awareness.

After their training was completed, the women were given a 30-question true/false test about cancer detection and self examination. Those that passed are eligible to become Mission Green Light Volunteers for Breast Cancer Awareness. Their responsibilities will include educating other uninsured women between the ages of 18-34 about breast cancer awareness and they will also refer eligible women to the Illinois Department of Health for free mammograms and Pap smear tests.

Munim has planned a celebratory dinner for the first graduating class of Mission Green Light volunteers Nov. 17. So far, he has half the funds needed for the event, donated by Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Brunswick Corporation and Dr. Hadi Jabbar. He has faith that the rest of the money somehow will be forthcoming, through the generosity of people who, like he has, have been touched by the sorrows of cancer.

How you can help

As with most non-profits, Mission Green Light is looking for many kinds of assistance. On top of Munim's wish list are office space, office furniture and equipment, as working out of his room in the nursing home is extremely difficult.

They also need financial support, volunteers to make phone calls, assist with office work and organize fund-raisers. As Munim said, "the strong should support the weak. If I can help, anyone can find a way to help."

For more information, call Rafi Munim at (847) 657-0715 or visit www.missiongreenlight.org. You can also e-mail missiongreenlight@gmail.com.