Local cancer awareness groups come together to support cancer research funding
As the federal government discusses spending cuts, the concern for the healthcare community is that medical research will continue to suffer. According to the American Cancer Society, medical research organizations are lobbying for $6 billion in funding, $1 billion of which will help cancer researchers bounce back from their losses over the past few years.
On Wednesday evening the local chapter of the American Cancer Society and Relay For Life got together at Headquarters Live in Salisbury for the “One Degree” event, to raise awareness and get a petition signed to convince legislators that cancer research is a priority.
“One Degree” is a campaign and collaboration between the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and Stand Up To Cancer, to help raise the funds needed for cancer research.
Joan Wharton of Salisbury was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma 13 years ago after returning from her honeymoon. She went through just under a year of chemo therapy at John Hopkins and eventually ended up beating the cancer. She credits love, faith and the American Cancer Society for getting her through.
Wharton tells 47 ABC, “Never ever give up hope. Honestly it’s the hope that organizations like the American Cancer Society gives that actually you know help when you’re going through something like this.”
Joan is now a member of the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.
Jim Thomas, also with ACS, says due to a struggling economy over the years cancer research in Maryland lost a staggering $21 million in funding. But through “One Degree”, the goal is to get that money back.
Thomas tells 47 ABC, “What’s interesting about “One Degree” is we feel like everyone’s one degree away from cancer.”
Lester Purnell serves on the local ACS board as well and is now fighting multiple myeloma, which is a cancer which affects the bones and certain blood cells.
Purnell tells 47 ABC, “It’s an experience that you go through and I’m just dealing with it and its a blessing that I’m still here. So many people’s lives are affected by cancer and if we can get a cure for all types of cancer it will be great.”
Fighting cancer and now fighting for funding so that researchers can find a cure. But in the meantime, local cancer fighters and cancer survivors are doing what they can to keep the hope alive, together.
Wharton tells 47 ABC, “I didn’t think I was going to survive let alone have a baby boy and today we are just sharing our life with him and watching him grow up and it’s wonderful. Maybe one of these days we never have to fight cancer again, so again, it all ties back into that hope.”
If you were not able to make it to the event this evening and sign the petition you can still do so by visiting the One degree website. The website allows you to electronically submit your name, or the name of someone you know, who has had cancer.
OneDegreeProject.org
There will also be a Relay for Life kickoff which is set to take place on October 2nd at Winterplace Park in Salisbury. Last year over 3,000 people participated in the event bringing in a total $240,000 to help support funding. If you would like to attend the Relay for Life event you can find more information at www.Relayforlife.org
