Washington, DC More than 250 childhood cancer patients, survivors and their families will be on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, June 24 to ask Congress to continue to support initiatives that can improve research, treatment and outcomes for children with cancer. The third annual Childhood Cancer Action Day event, coordinated by the Alliance for Childhood Cancer, is an effort to advance important legislation that will benefit the nearly 16,000 children newly diagnosed with cancer each year and more than 379,000 survivors of childhood cancer in the U.S.
Families from 34 states, each of whom is armed with deeply personal experiences that inspired them to travel to Washington, are in town to ensure that Congress understands the importance of supporting children with cancer and their families, said Danielle Leach, MPA, co-chair of the Alliance for Childhood Cancer.
Advocates ranging in age from 3-73 will meet with their members of Congress and ask for their support for funding for childhood cancer research and passage of the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Reauthorization Act.
The Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2607/ S. 1251) was introduced by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE). This legislation would expand the research of childhood cancers, improve efforts to identify and track childhood cancer incidences and identify opportunities to expand the development and research of therapeutics necessary to treat children with cancer.
Advocates will also ask for increased funding for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and its investments in childhood cancer research, which is critical to identifying new treatments and completing ongoing clinical trials. Low funding levels have resulted in cuts to the NCI 's world-renown Children 's Oncology Group the leader in pediatric cancer clinical trials. An estimated 60 percent of children with cancer are enrolled in federally funded clinical trials, which often hold the best possible hope for successful treatment, meaning that insufficient funding at the NCI is especially harmful to the pediatric cancer community.
We 're excited not only about the day, but about the potential these legislative actions have to make a difference in the lives of the children who undergo cancer treatment each year, says Amy Billett, MD, co-chair of the Alliance for Childhood Cancer. We know that through these visits and the grassroots efforts of those who were unable to travel to join us in person, we can demonstrate to Congress the power they have to make a difference in the lives of children with cancer, now and into the future.
Hundreds more advocates around the country are expected to join the conversation online by calling on Congress to #StepUp: More Funding for Childhood Cancer Research.
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A rally will take place on the west side of the Capitol building at 10:30am, and then participants will depart in groups by state to visit their representatives and senators throughout the day. Children with cancer, those who have survived, and their parents and loved ones are available for interview and photographs upon request.
About the Alliance
The Alliance for Childhood Cancer advocates to advance research and policies to improve the diagnosis, treatment, care, and survivorship of children and adolescents with cancer, as well as enhance public awareness.
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. For more information, visitæhttps://www.fightcancer.org/.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Lauren Walens or Steven Weiss
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Phone: (202) 661-5763 or (202) 661-5711
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
#childhoodcancer #StepUp #cancerresearch #ACSCAN #Congress #cancer
