TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Earlier today, dozens of state legislators joined more than 50 American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) advocates in lacing up their sneakers in support of cancer survivors, patients and caregivers as well as to honor those who have lost their battle with the disease.
Florida’s first “Suits and Sneakers” coincided with ACS CAN’s annual Day at the Capitol event. It was sponsored by Sen. Debbie Mayfield from Indian River and Southern Brevard Counties.
“Far too many Floridians have been impacted by this terrible disease and we were happy to see so many of our legislators join together to raise awareness,” said Heather Youmans, ACS CAN’s senior director for government relations in Florida. “We hope today’s event represents a step toward encouraging our elected officials to take action on important issues that can ease suffering from cancer.”
ACS CAN volunteers met with legislators throughout the day to ensure the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act is modernized to include e-cigarettes, an issue that more than two-thirds of Floridians supported last November. Additionally, ACS CAN is advocating for the state to include $2.6 million in funding for the Mary Brogan Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and $30 million for the state’s two biomedical research programs.
This year in Florida, an estimated 131,470 people will be diagnosed with cancer and 45,000 are projected to die from the disease. Additionally, there are more than 1.3 million people living in Florida who have survived a cancer diagnosis.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
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