Coming Together to Conquer Cancer - THE MARCH

American Cancer Society
Friday, 1 June 2001

What is The March?

A year long public awareness and grassroots organizing campaign conducted at the national level and in communities throughout the country culminating in a monumental March in Washington, D.C. in the Fall of 1998

The March campaign will convene local task forces in communities across the country that will work together to give this newly educated and empowered constituency its strength--a strength that will continue to build and grow long after the Washington event is over

The March itself will draw countless numbers of people to Washington, D.C. and to events in cities across the country to carry the message that federal funding and public policy related to cancer must change

What are the goals of The March?

To raise public awareness and create a national urgency to reduce the burden of cancer in all areas including prevention; education; support; advocacy; and basic, clinical, and translational research--as well as access to quality cancer care

To educate and mobilize a grassroots constituency of individuals, organizations, and institutions

To make funding for cancer research, prevention, and treatment a number one priority of policymakers

To enable community leaders to unite around a common goal of reducing suffering from cancer by broadening access to quality cancer care

To keep up the pressure on our national leaders until cancer is no longer a threat to the American people

Who is involved with The March?

National organizations, local peer-support groups, and anyone who is willing to work toward lessening the burden of cancer in their community and across this country

The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) is coordination activities for The March in close collaboration with the Friends of Cancer Research, the Intercultural Cancer Council (ICC), and other national organizations

Who is involved with The March?

NCCS, Friends of Cancer Research, the Intercultural Cancer Council (ICC), and founding members of the Cancer Leadership Council (CLC) including--Cancer Care, Inc., Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO), National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), North American Brain Tumor Coalition, US TOO International (US TOO), and Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization (Y-ME)--will collaborate on public policy issues along with representatives from the American Cancer Society, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer Research, the Leukemia Society of America, the Oncology Nursing Society, respected experts from inside and outside of the cancer community, and others

As this campaign develops, local task forces and organizations at the national level will include members of the cancer community, senior citizen groups, children's organizations, labor unions, environmentalists, educators, and others who are concerned about the issues of cancer research funding and access to quality cancer care

Whom do I contact for additional information?

For information about national events, programs and planning, please contact: Donna Doneski via phone (301-650-9127) or fax (301-565-9670).

For local/regional information about The March you may contact any one of the regional directors from McGuire & company listed below by calling 202-861-0998: Elise Annes, Meghan Clark, Jennifer Granston, or Susan Learman

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org