survivorship and patient services

Great Lakes residents successfully fighting back against cancer
Across the Division, people at Relay For Life events are making a difference by getting involved and pledging to ’fight back’ against cancer. During a Fight Back Ceremony, teams and participants are encouraged to make a Fight Back pledge to determine how they aim to play a part in the fight against the disease and help save lives.

When the Relay For Life of Daviess County, Indiana held its first Fight Back Ceremony, the pledge of a participant went beyond the committee's expectations. The committee explained to participants that they had the power to save a life this year by fighting back. Brenda Devine approached one of the volunteers, handed her a pack of cigarettes and a lighter and said, "Here, take these, I'm quitting smoking today!"

Brenda also agreed to be tracked in her progress and allowed ACS to assist her in her personal fight against smoking. Staff followed up with Brenda after the Relay and she had still kept her pledge, but they also made sure to let her know about all of the ACS programs that would equip her during the quitting process.

"This is the reason for the Fight Back Ceremony...to help people change their lives in order to help them do what they can to fight back against cancer incidence in their own lives," said Eric Herndon, ACS Associate Director.

In Dearborn, Michigan, two Relay volunteers took it upon themselves to fight back in their community by encouraging businesses to go smokefree. Debbie Malyn and Ernie Oz composed a letter to mail to Dearborn chamber members that included facts about lung cancer and second-hand smoke. Because they both have business relationships with the city's Mayor and State Representative, they were able to get their signatures to indicate their support of this effort. Along with this letter, Debbie and Ernie sent out a form for businesses to mail back that either specified that they were already smokefree, or that they intended to become smokefree to better serve their guests and employees.

Prior to the Relay For Life of Dearborn, Debbie and Ernie received notices from 35 businesses that were already smokefree. During the event's Fight Back Ceremony, the Fight Back speaker mentioned the smokefree initiative and recognized the businesses in the community that had responded. Debbie was also very pleased to make the announcement that she had received a commitment that day from bd’s Mongolian Barbeque that they would be going smokefree. This restaurant had donated to the event, and their manager was the first to the microphone to make his pledge to fight back by making his restaurant smokefree.

Fighting back against cancer can be a community initiative, a personal pledge to live a healthier life, or a commitment to help those battling cancer. It is important to remember that one person’s pledge can truly make a difference. For more information on how you can fight back against cancer and get involved, call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.