The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network recently honored Olivet resident C.J. Heisler with its Advocacy Volunteer of the Year award at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing.
The award recognizes the exemplary efforts of an individual who helps ACS CAN advocate for responsible public health policies and laws that will help fight cancer. To be considered, a volunteer must 1) demonstrate outstanding and successful leadership in cancer-related public policy at the national, state or local levels; 2) make substantial contributions to the fight against cancer at the state level or in their community; and 3) actively participate in local and state-level events, media campaigns and advocacy initiatives throughout the year.
“C.J. serves a key role within ACS CAN with great passion and commitment,” said Matt Phelan, Michigan grassroots manager for ACS CAN. “He is always there when you need him and consistently goes above and beyond our expectations of volunteers. Our team would certainly not be the same without his hard work and persistence.”
The award ceremony was part of ACS CAN’s annual Day at the Capitol, which brought together cancer advocates like Heisler to urge lawmakers to make cancer a top legislative priority.
“Cancer death rates continue to decrease nationwide, but we still haven’t fully implemented proven ways to prevent the disease in the first place,” Heisler said. “More than 21,000 Michiganders will still lose their lives to cancer in 2017 alone. We’re here today to ask lawmakers to help cancer patients better access lifesaving treatment options and screenings and to confront one of the leading causes of premature death in our state – tobacco use.”
Specifically, ACS CAN volunteers asked lawmakers to:
ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate organization of the American Cancer Society, 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.fightcancer.org.