Braving high temperatures and the occasional rain shower, crowds of advocates across Indiana and Michigan recently welcomed the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Fight Back Express bus to their communities.

The Fight Back Express visited the Great Lakes Division from July 13 to July 19, making a total of 21 stops in the two states. At each stop, people showed their support for making cancer a top national priority by signing the bus with their fight back messages.

"We were very excited to welcome the Fight Back Express to the Great Lakes Division," said Jen Hunt, ACS Director of Grassroots Advocacy. "As a mobile action center, the bus gives people the chance to take action right in their own community that will help make cancer a top national priority."

The bus hit the road in May and is traveling across the country, stopping in hundreds of communities in all 48 contiguous states to unite the voices of the millions of Americans who believe cancer needs to be an important campaign issue.

ACS CAN is the non-profit, non-partisan sister advocacy organization of the American Cancer Society that gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. With the Fight Back Express, ACS CAN will be able to bring the stories of cancer patients, survivors, and friends to the presidential candidates to make cancer a priority issue in their administration.

"There are more than 10.5 million cancer survivors in America today. If each of them can battle cancer, then our nation can rise up to defeat it," said Janeen Tkaczyk, an ACS CAN volunteer from Lansing, Michigan.

Each stop provided advocates with the opportunity to share their cancer story through the Picture A Cure program, where photos are taken of those affected by cancer and then sent with written personal stories to lawmakers in their area. Visitors were also able to sign a petition to support access to quality health care for all Americans and encourage lawmakers to promote prevention and early detection programs, boost funds for cancer research, and implement strong tobacco control policies.

If you were not able to see the bus in person, you can still be a part of the Fight Back Express. You can track the bus’s progress as it rolls across the U.S. with several online and interactive tools, including updates, blogs, and more. You can also become a member of ACS CAN and take action on state or local action alerts in support of legislative.

In the battle to eliminate cancer, every voice counts. Join the fight against cancer today and make your voice heard at www.acscan.org/bus.