Flower power

Tammy Padgett, a cancer survivor, is walking the halls of the Capitol today to talk with legislators about the importance of early detection.

Padgett, of Edmond, and her 10-year-old son Zack, are among about 40 cancer survivors and American Cancer Society volunteers who are visiting with lawmakers.

As a reminder, they are leaving bunches of daffodils with legislators and their staff. They plan to deliver more than 3,000 daffodils by early afternoon.

Padgett said Zack, who will report back to his fifth-grade students tomorrow on today’s activities, was in kindergarten when she found out she had breast cancer. She has been cancer free since then; she goes back for checkups every six months.

“So now we’re fighting for other people,” said Padgett, who participated in a clinical trial to beat her cancer. “I’m living proof that the latest research is saving lives.”

She and other volunteers will be thanking senators who voted earlier this week to pass Senate Bill 14, which would require insurance companies to cover colorectal cancer screening.

They will be giving information about the bill to House members, who now will consider the bill.