Portland, Ore. – September 24, 2015 – On September 29, Seaside resident Lois Fitzpatrick joins more than 750 cancer patients, survivors, volunteers and staff from all 50 states and nearly every congressional district in Washington, D.C., as part of the annual American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Leadership Summit and Lobby Day. Advocates will ask Congress to take specific steps to make cancer a national priority and help end a disease that still kills 1,600 people a day in this country.
Fitzpatrick, the lead ambassador for Oregon’s army of ACS CAN cancer volunteers, hopes to meet Rep. Bonamici and Sens.Wyden and Merkley to discuss the need for increased federal cancer research funding. She’ll also ask them to co-sponsor legislation that supports patients’ quality of life and to support legislation that would close a Medicare loophole causing high costs for seniors when a polyp is found during a routine colonoscopy.
A 20-year breast cancer survivor, Fitzpatrick fights tirelessly to cure cancer. In 2013, she was awarded the American Cancer Society’s St. George National Award for her outstanding contributions to cancer control.
“One in two men and one in three women will hear the words ‘you have cancer’ in their lifetime. We need a full and unwavering commitment from Congress to take action to help prevent and treat cancer,” said Fitzpatrick. “We want our lawmakers to know that Oregon’s volunteers, and those from every state, are counting on them to take a stand.”
WHAT: Interview her before, during or after her Washington, D.C. trip. On-site satellite TV and radio interviews available from D.C. on Tuesday, September 29.
CONTACT: Noe Baker at 503-729-2919, [email protected] to set up a time.
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard.
