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Letter to the editor: Making the Cancer fight a top priority from Clay County to D.C.


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Editor,

Last week, I had the honor of representing Florida on Capitol Hill. Along with roughly 600 of my fellow American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteers from across the country, I traveled to Washington, D.C., representing Clay County, to urge lawmakers to make cancer a national priority.

Together, we called on Congress to support lifesaving policies that help people prevent and treat cancer. We asked legislators for their support in increasing federal funding for cancer research and prevention, and to support increasing the diversity of those enrolled in clinical trials.

I had the opportunity to sit down with U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack (Fla.-3), and both Sens. Marco Rubio’s and Rick Scott’s aides and tell them that cancer isn’t partisan – it touches every community. I also let them know that many Floridians touched by cancer or who have loved ones affected rely on them to support legislation that will help reduce the cancer burden and protect our communities.

With about 1,670 people dying from cancer daily, we must take legislative action on these crucial issues. Congress should seize the opportunity to pass critical, bipartisan legislation to help save lives and end cancer as we know it.

I encourage other Clay residents to join us and give us a stronger and louder voice in the fight against cancer by visiting fightcancer.org.

Carleen Marianek

Volunteer, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network