Tennessee State Lead Ambassador

Brittney Block

Brittney Block has been involved with ACS CAN since 2017 and with ACS since 2016. Brittney began her cancer advocacy work within Relay For Life Memphis as the area’s Advocacy Chair. She became an ACS CAN ACT! Lead thereafter and has created strong relationships with her local legislators. At home in Memphis, Brittney is a Director of Digital Account Management for iHeartMedia, helping lead a 150-person team. Additionally, Brittney serves as the founder and online facilitator of ThyCa Memphis and a steward of a Little Free Library.

Why are you a cancer advocate?

When I was 26 years old, I was very unexpectedly diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. I was the first person in my family diagnosed with the disease, and as a young adult just starting out in my career, my entire life was upended. As I went through testing and surgery, I truly didn’t know what I was up against, and for the first time in my life, I had to face my mortality. In order to best cope and use my diagnosis for something good, I leaned into volunteering in the cancer community, which ultimately led me to cancer advocacy. I will always use my cancer story and voice to speak up and out for others who are unable. Being a cancer advocate is the most purposeful thing I do.

What is your proudest accomplishment as an ACS CAN volunteer?

My proudest accomplishments have been the success of my fundraising campaigns for ACS CAN. I have created so many relationships through these efforts, which has brought a ton of awareness to our ACS CAN mission, thyroid cancer, and young adults with cancer—an often-overlooked group. Additionally, I have had the honor of speaking about my fundraising efforts throughout ACS CAN, most recently including a panel at our 2022 ACS CAN Leadership & Lobby Day in DC.

Why is being an ACS CAN volunteer important to you?

Being an ACS CAN volunteer is important to me because working to change public policy is the way I can have the most impact on cancer. Additionally, the organization has been and continues to be hyper-focused on health equity, which is incredibly important in these conversations. 

Want to join me in the fight against cancer? Fill out this form to sign up to be an ACS CAN volunteer in Tennessee.