Nikiski Student Joe Yourkoski Recognized For Work With American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Originally Published at radiokenai.net on February 20, 2019
Written by Jennifer Williams

Nikiski Student Joe Yourkoski Recognized For Work With American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Joe Yourkoski was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of four, and by the age of 13 was declared a survivor. Now, Joe is a junior at Nikiski Middle/High School working to educate other Alaskans about the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

Joe: “I went through 3 1/2 years of intense and grueling chemotherapy treatment, and then another five years in long-term remission. When I was 13, somewhere between 7th and 8th grade I was deemed cancer free.”

Over the last four years, Joe has been working on advocacy issues with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. He testified numerous times to our state legislators about the smoke-free workplace bill that was passed in 2018.

He was asked by Johna Beech, Alaska State Lead for ACS CAN, to testify in Juneau in support of the bill.

Joe: “About 4 years when Johna asked me to come to Juneau to testify in support of the smoke-free workplace act, which was successfully passed last year, stated that in places in business you cannot smoke in workplaces so that we weren’t forcing Alaskans to choose between a job and their health.” 

His teacher would have their class listen to public testimony when Joe would call into the local legislative office to testify.

He continues to testify in front of the legislature:“Before it was to work on the smoke-free workplace act. Now it’s just to remind legislators, especially the new ones, what the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is and stands for.”

He was recognized for his work with American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network by the state legislature, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski in Juneau on Tuesday.