Dear Editor,
On Monday Sept. 21 my family and I are going to Washington D.C. to attend the American Cancer Society’s Celebration on the Hill to encourage our legislatures to continue funding for cancer research .
We are legislative ambassadors for the American Cancer Society and we will be joining approximately 4,000 other ambassadors from around the United States. Celebration on The Hill is similar to our local Relay For Life events except it will be held in Washington D.C. at the Washington Monument rather than at our local schools.
The Reflecting Pool will be lit with luminaries honoring those that have survived cancer or in memory of those that have died, more than 10,000 people will participate. While in Washington D.C. we will be meeting with Congressman Richard Pombo. We are asking him to sign a Congressional Promise to make health system reform a priority, elevate prevention, early detection and survivorship, increase our commitment to research, and expand access to care.
We will also be asking him to increase funding for cancer research rather than cutting funding as planned. We are also requesting that Congress increase funding in the next year to $250 million for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, and over time increase funding to a level that insures screening for all eligible women. This Centers for Disease Control program provides breast and cervical cancer screenings and treatment to low-income and uninsured women.
Success at Celebration on the Hill means that we will be one step closer to finding a cure for this deadly disease.
Linda Roma, Morgan Hill
