IOWA AMBASSADORS VISIT WASHINGTON WITH
MESSAGES OF HOPE ON THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

 THOUSANDS OF ADVOCATES GATHER ON NATIONAL MALL

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Mall in Washington, DC was a sea of hope and empowerment on Wednesday as thousands of Americans from around the country participated in the American Cancer Society (ACS) Cancer Action Network’s Celebration on the Hill.

Celebration on the Hill was an event celebrating cancer survivorship and empowering survivors and others to advocate for laws that will help fight the disease.  According to the ACS, nearly 4,000 "Celebration Ambassadors" gathered for the unique event to “show our country's lawmakers how the American Cancer Society and its sister organization the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network is waging the fight against cancer in communities nationwide.”

Iowa Congressman Tom Latham met with a group of Iowa Celebration Ambassadors at the state’s tent on the National Mall. 

“It was a great experience to visit with the folks from Iowa,” said Latham.  “These people are great advocates for cancer research and they really do a fabulous job.”

Among the Celebration Ambassadors representing Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District at the event were Francie Crawford (Fredericksburg). Judy Gonzales (Ft. Dodge), Joel Greer (Marshalltown), Connie Mechler (Algona), Sandy Sunde (Estherville), Katie Towers (Scranton), and Mackenzie Lowry (Clear Lake).

During the visit Latham signed the Congressional Cancer Promise to support the ACS federal legislative agenda.  The promise outlines specific legislative goals that can have a major impact in moving us forward in the fight against cancer such as: making health system reform a priority, elevating prevention, working for early detection and survivorship, increasing our federal commitment to research, and expanding access to care.

“It is absolutely critical that we find a cure for all types of cancers,” noted Latham.  “We have made great strides forward in just the past decade in the survival rate of cancer.  But we have got to keep the funding in place to make sure that the great research continues so that we find a cure for cancer.”

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