Sudbury Resident Receives Prestigious Cancer Advocacy Award

SUDBURY –  Sudbury’s Marisa Lutz was recently named the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) 2018-19 Denise Merrill Advocacy Fellow. Lutz has been a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and ACS CAN since 2009, dedicating her time to the Lincoln-Sudbury Relay for Life and serving as a vocal advocate for ongoing state and local public policy initiatives to eliminate cancer. 

The award was established in 2002 in memory of Denise Merrill of Malden, Massachusetts.  Denise, who succumbed to breast cancer in 2000, was a highly-committed advocacy volunteer who worked tirelessly on ACS CAN’s public policy efforts.  This Fellowship is awarded to a cancer survivor or advocate who embodies the spirit of Denise and is willing to work with the ACS CAN team for a one-year term as an advocate for federal, state or local cancer control legislation, and as a leading voice for cancer survivorship.  

 “Year after year, her commitment to fighting cancer continues to grow, and she continues to help extend the reach of our organization by recruiting family and friends to join the fight,” said Melissa Stacy, Grassroots Manager for ACS CAN in Massachusetts. “This year, Marisa applied for and was accepted to be the ACS CAN volunteer lead for her district. Since May she has worked to build her team, forge a relationship with her Federal Representative and her state lawmakers, and encourages her team members to do the same. She leads by example and inspires everyone she meets.”

“I am humbled by this honor and grateful for the recognition. The work that Denise did as an advocate over 15 years ago laid the groundwork for some activities that ACS CAN engages in today. Her legacy inspires me to work harder and speak louder so that elected officials will make fighting cancer a national priority. I am excited to continue to advocate for public policy that supports cancer patients and their families,” said Lutz.

“Whether it’s the increases in tobacco taxes, funding for the breast and cervical cancer early detection and treatment programs or laws expanding access to quality affordable health care for every American, Society and ACS CAN volunteers and staff continue to be motivated by Denise’s memory to advocate for laws such as these,” continued Stacy. “Marisa is a driving force for this organization and helps to motivate staff and volunteers alike to push harder and do more to end this disease.”

The award was presented to Lutz at the 26th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Boston walk. At the event, an estimated 25,000 walkers from Greater Boston raised funds and walked either a two-mile or six-mile route to fight the second leading cause of cancer death in women.

ACS CAN is the non-profit, non-partisan advocacy affiliate organization of the American Cancer Society, which is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage lawmakers, candidates and government officials to support laws and policies that will make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer. For more information, visit www.acscan.org. 

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