American Cancer Society Rallies For Funding
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 1:00PMBy Janie Amaya
Hundreds gathered outside the U.S. Capitol urging Congress to support future funding for cancer research and prevention programs and prevent budget cuts. The rally was part of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) annual leadership summit and lobby day.
Several of the nation’s top men’s college basketball coaches put their rivalries aside and joined the ACS in their nationwide collaboration, Coaches vs. Cancer. University of Missouri-Kansas City basketball coach Matt Brown was joined by his 11-year-old daughter Ally, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the age of eight.
“Cancer is amazing. It just doesn’t affect the patient itself, it also affects the families,” Brown said. “Ally has been tremendous through all of this; I think mom and dad have had the biggest struggle more than anybody else.”
In a short speech, Brown encouraged supporters to get out there and use their voices. “Don’t think it doesn’t make a difference,” he said. “Maybe there’s one person out there that’s willing to really understand why you’re here and hopefully they’ll continue to give money for this wonderful cause.”
ACS volunteer and supporter Brenda Turner from Kentucky lost her sister to cancer 10 years ago and has since taken part in the annual event. “I work everyday for the cancer society to try to find a cure for cancer and that’s what we’re here for today; to ask our Congressman and Senators to make sure they put funding in the budget for cancer research.”
Turner said the events makes a difference because the ACS has managed to keep funding in the last several years. “If we didn’t speak out I know we wouldn’t get anything,” she said.
ACS offers several services, including look good-feel better sessions, funds for clinic transportation and research and education. The organization boasts that they have approximately 600 advocates and survivors from all 50 states and nearly all Congressional districts one the ground in D.C. working to raise awareness and secure funding.
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