 |
|
|
|||||||||
 |
||
 |
advocacy Volunteers secure first nationwide signature on new advocacy document If you think that you could never make a concrete difference in politics, become an American Cancer Society advocacy volunteer. A delegation of five Michigan volunteers recently made a big impact by visiting Congressman Dale Kildee’s office and securing the first nationwide signature on an advocacy document from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.  The new document is the Congressional Cancer Promise, which asks congressmen to commit to eliminate suffering and death due to cancer. This includes making health system reform a priority; elevate prevention, early detection, and survivorship; increase commitment to research; and expand access to care. Shuntai Beaugard, community development director for the East Michigan Area Service Center (pictured third from right), scheduled the meeting and sent Congressman Kildee a copy of the Promise prior to the meeting to give him a chance to review it ahead of time. She also went to the meeting with the volunteers. "They introduced themselves, let him know what they were there for, let him know they will be in Washington DC in September, and some shared their story to make it more personal," explained Shuntai. Congressman Kildee (pictured second from left) let the volunteers know he agrees that cancer issues need to be a priority and signed the Promise on the spot. "He was very interested in what we had to say, very open to signing the Promise, very supportive of what volunteers do for the ACS, and very interested in personal stories," said Becky Davidek, a volunteer at the meeting and a cancer survivor (pictured first on left). If it the Promise is not signed by September, congressmen will be asked to sign it again during Celebration on the Hill, our nationwide advocacy event in Washington DC. "Our goal is to get as many congressmen and U.S. senators to sign it as possible," said Patricia Richards, government relations manager for Indiana. Collecting signatures on the Promise is one of our main goals for Celebration on the Hill. Volunteers selected to go to our nationwide event as Celebration on the Hill ambassadors will be taking the Promise to congressmen until September. These legislative visits are also a chance for congressmen to sign Wall of Hope banners, which are sponsored by local organizations or businesses and signed by community members at Relay For Life events to represent the thousands of people who can’t make it to Washington DC with us in September. During their meeting, Congressman Kildee signed the Wall of Hope banner for the Flint event. After their visit with Congressman Kildee, the Celebration on the Hill ambassadors were excited to learn they had the first Congressional Cancer Promise signature in the country. "That gives me goose bumps, I’m so excited," said Becky. "It’s amazing that people like myself that do not really work in politics too much can make a difference...it’s a step in the right direction." | |
|
|