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advocacy Meet Sharon Simmons, a survivor joining the Society's efforts in Washington DC Sharon Simmons (shown right) of Fort Wayne, Indiana, became involved with the American Cancer Society when she joined Making Strides Against Breast Cancer approximately one year after her cancer treatment ended. As a survivor, she wants to ensure that she is doing everything she can to eliminate cancer for the future. One way that she passionately makes a difference is through being an advocacy volunteer for the Society.  The Society knows that cancer is a political issue because elected officials can make decisions that affect the lives of cancer survivors, their families, and potential cancer patients. This is why we need volunteers, like Sharon, who help with our advocacy efforts. She makes her voice heard by going to Indiana Lobby Day, a statewide event that brings volunteers together at the capital to speak with legislators about why cancer needs to be a priority in the government.
She also follows cancer legislation on a regular basis and responds to Action Alerts, which are e-mails sent out to Society advocacy volunteers, asking them to write to lawmakers to express their opinion on cancer-related issues. Sharon's commitment to advocacy made her a perfect candidate to become a Society ambassador during Celebration on the Hill in 2002, our first major nationwide effort in which volunteers traveled from each state to Washington DC to speak with legislators about cancer issues. "I loved it," she says. "It was one of the most inspirational experiences I had, ever." After that, Congress doubled the National Institutes of Health budget and added new federal dollars to cancer programs. "It's a good thing to advocate," Sharon says. "If we don't speak up, [lawmakers] don't know what we want. We sent them [to office] to do our work; they want to hear from us. They're interested in what we have to say. The American Cancer Society makes it so easy. You can use information that's provided for you, and you don't have to make it personal if you don't want to." Sharon is returning to Washington DC this fall, as one of the 196 volunteers chosen to be ambassadors from Indiana and Michigan to attend Celebration on the Hill 2006, taking place September 19--20. She feels the need to go back to Washington for the second event because, as effective as the first Celebration was, there is much more to do. She fears that the legislators may have lost their focus, especially after virtually all of the funding for federal cancer programs is slated to be reduced across-the-board in the 2007 budget. "I feel like there are so many issues right now that are so important that cancer's going to get lost and put on the back burner and I feel like we're making so much progress that we can't stop," she says. "We need to keep the momentum going, put their feet to the fire. I think we can lick the disease, but we can't stop." Sharon wants to make sure all of her elected officials know what it means to be a person who has been touched by cancer. VOICES will be following Sharon as she prepares for her Celebration on the Hill 2006 experience. Watch for more Advocacy articles to cover her story. If you want to go with Sharon to Celebration on the Hill 2006 as a supporter you may sign up now on www.celebrationonthehill.org. This is your Opportunity Highlight of the month from VOICES! Other articles in VOICES this month community focus: volunteers dispay teamwork and passion for new Relay events |
survivorship and patient services: young cancer survivors are invited to our fun-filled, annual summer camp |
survivorship and patient services: Relay For Life celebrates and supports survivors in your community |
research: people with personal cancer experiences help determine funding for Society research |
education: all women over 40 need mammograms, a government funded program may help with cost |
advocacy: sign the 2015 petition, make your voice heard in Washington DC |
local area spotlight: society staff partner with health organizations |
resource highlight: sign up now for action alerts to monitor cancer issues |
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