By: Molly Gase & Andrea Mazzocco
Akron Cancer Advocacy Research Education and Service will be hosting a Fight Back Week next week to help the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network advocate for raising the tax on cigarettes and tobacco products and to Celebrate with Action.
Students will be able to participate in activities to aid in the fight to end cancer through a variety of events planned by Akron CARES.
Beginning Monday through Sept. 15, there will be a table in the Student Union outside of the Union Market with information for students wishing to be involved. This table will be there between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. throughout the week. Students and faculty will be able to send postcards to Congress to persuade them to raise the tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products.
A current goal of ACS CAN is to demand that Congress take legitimate steps toward decreasing the number of people who are diagnosed with or die from cancer, including raising the tax on tobacco products.
“Since the government gives the most money to cancer research, it is vital to have an organization that will show Congress how important these issues are,” said Relay For Life 2012 Event Co-Chair and Akron CARES member Miranda Burbridge. “By utilizing the government, many more doors can be opened, leading to a cure.”
Students and faculty will also be able to participate in Celebrate with Action, an event to commemorate of ACS CAN’s 10th anniversary. The organization is asking everyone to share personal milestones in relation to cancer. CARES members will have dry erase boards for people to write down their own milestones. Each person will then be photographed while holding their message. All of the photos will be compiled into a scrapbook that will be sent to Congress.
One example of this milestone project is American Cancer Society Staff Partner for the East Central Division (Ohio & Pa.) Collegiate Advisory Team, Jo Brindley
“My sister will be the Maid of Honor at my wedding thanks to early detection. A pap smear saved her life.” Brindley wrote.
The organization’s largest accomplishment to date is that they have helped 35 states, including Ohio, to go “smoke-free” by pushing for the smoking bans. Ohio’s ban went into action several years ago and outlaws smoking in public buildings, including restaurants and bars.
ACS CAN is the nonprofit advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society. Akron CARES is the American Cancer Society’s Colleges Against Chapter at The University of Akron. The two organizations work together to advocate for cancer research and awareness.
