American Cancer Society Bus Tour to Highlight Survivorship, Volunteers, Commitment to Cancer Advocacy

3/6/2002

From: Unice Lieberman of the American Cancer Society, 202-661-5711 or cell: 202-549-0095; e-mail: unice.lieberman@cancer.org

NEW YORK, March 6 -- The American Cancer Society, the nation's leading voluntary health agency, today launched a national bus tour from New York City. The "Celebration on the Hill" Bus will tour the country for seven months, traveling to over 40 states, collecting signatures from cancer survivors and their families who believe cancer should be a national priority. The bus will arrive in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 19 for the Society's "Relay for Life Celebration on the Hill " event.

"We're sending a message: We care about cancer and we vote," said H. Fred Mickelson chairman of the board of the American Cancer Society. "This is an opportunity for us to show the nation and its leaders that cancer continues to be a major health concern and priority for many Americans. We want to advocate for laws that will help people fight cancer."

The bus is a full-size, coach charter "shrink-wrapped" in the Relay for Life signature color purple. Emblazoned on the bus are the American Cancer Society's Internet address and toll-free number and the tagline, "I Care About Cancer and I Vote!" Ample space will be left for cancer survivors and those touched by the disease to sign the bus as it makes its way to Washington, D.C. The bus will also carry back "luminaria" bags bearing the names of cancer survivors and those lost to the disease for a candle lighting ceremony on Sept. 19. The ceremony will be held at dusk at the Capitol Reflecting Pool.

The Celebration Bus will highlight the Society's efforts to bring its signature event, Relay For Life, to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Relay is a unique overnight activity that offers everyone in a community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Relay For Life participants organize teams to walk, run or otherwise move around a track to demonstrate their resolve to eliminate cancer as a major public health problem. The American Cancer Society's "Relay For Life Celebration on the Hill" is a grassroots event celebrating cancer survivorship and empowering survivors and others to become a political force both in Washington, D.C. and in communities across the country.

More than 3,000 Relay Community Ambassadors -- Society volunteers -- and cancer survivors from each of the country's 435 Congressional districts will take part on Sept. 18 and 19 in the Celebration on the Hill event. During this event, the Ambassadors will meet with their members of Congress and will be joined by thousands more supporters from across the country at the Capitol Reflecting Pool.

"We want Congress to know cancer is a major concern to their constituents. This year, an estimated 1.3 million Americans are going to be diagnosed with cancer and 550,000 will die. Cancer is yet to be defeated and we need to continue to do more so we can one day say we eliminated cancer as a major health threat. We are getting closer, but we need Congress' help," said Phylecia Wilson, a cancer survivor and a 25-year Society volunteer.

Congress plays a critical role in the battle against cancer. Changes in laws can impact millions of people, exponentially expanding and enhancing the American Cancer Society's mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. Celebration on the Hill is designed to send a message to our elected leaders that we need to stay committed to enacting policies and providing resources that will help alleviate our nation's cancer burden.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

For information about cancer, call toll-free anytime 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit the American Cancer Society Web site at www.cancer.org.