American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Celebration Sept. 19 on Capitol Hill

9/17/2002

From: Unice Lieberman of the American Cancer Society, 202-661-5711, 202-549-0095 (cell), Unice.Lieberman@cancer.org

News Advisory:

WHO: Thousands of cancer survivors, caregivers, and volunteers from all 50 states and 435 Congressional Districts.

WHAT: American Cancer Society's Relay For Life Celebration on the Hill is a grassroots event celebrating cancer survivorship and empowering survivors and others to advocate for laws that will help people fight cancer.

WHERE: U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool, Washington, D.C.

WHEN: Thursday, September 19 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

-- 10 a.m. -- Opening Ceremonies and cancer survivors walk around the Reflecting Pool. -- 11:15 a.m. (Note) -- Celebration bus arrives, a "rolling petition" that collected over 105,000 signatures during a 6-month, 48 state tour. -- 3 p.m. (Note) -- Cancer survivors walk and Celebration Youth Choir perform. -- 4 p.m. -- Tommy Thompson, Secretary of Health & Human Services speaks (tentative). -- 7:30 p.m. -- Candle lighting "luminaria" ceremony to honor survivors and remember those lost to cancer. -- 9:30 p.m. -- Closing ceremonies.

WHY: Congress plays a critical role in the fight against cancer, the nation's second leading cause of death and leading health concern. Every year 1.2 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer and 500,000 die of the disease. Federal funding for cancer research and research application are critical to eliminating cancer as a major public health concern.

Note: New time.