Tampa Community Gathers to Honor Those Affected by Cancer

TAMPA, Fla. – Cancer patients, survivors and advocates from the Tampa area gathered this Thursday evening at the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Hope Lodge to honor people affected by cancer.

The Hope Lodges of the American Cancer Society offer free lodging and other resources to cancer patients and their caregivers when they must travel far from home for treatment.

Each year, volunteers from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) hold Lights of Hope displays across the country to remind lawmakers of their crucial role in the fight against cancer.

For Alma González, a Tampa resident, the fight against cancer is deeply personal, which is why she participated in this heartfelt event.

"Each Light of Hope represents a life affected by cancer. I dedicated one to my mother, who passed away just a few months after being diagnosed with cancer. We didn't even know what type of cancer it was because it had already spread throughout her body," González shared.

After losing her mother, González decided to turn her grief into action by volunteering with ACS CAN to advocate for greater access to health care and cancer screenings.

"Our elected leaders play a vital role in achieving our vision of ending cancer as we know it. That's why it's so important to remind them that it's their duty to support laws that help us all prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer," González said.

"Through the Lights of Hope campaign, we raise funds so that ACS CAN can continue advocating for those affected by cancer, including the estimated 160,680 people in Florida who are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year," said Sonja Foster, ACS CAN Florida grassroots manager.

As the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, ACS CAN ensures that cancer remains a priority for lawmakers at all levels of government by empowering volunteers to make their voices heard in promoting life-saving public policies in Florida and across the country.

For details on how to dedicate a Light of Hope to a loved one or make a donation, visit https://acscan.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=2433.