Recently, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) hosted their annual leadership summit where hundreds of survivors, patients, and caregivers stormed Capitol Hill to speak with their Members of Congress about important issues affecting the cancer community. More than 600 ACS CAN cancer advocate volunteers asked their U.S. Senate and House members to increase federal funding for cancer research and to support cancer control programs. In addition, these volunteer advocates attended valuable training sessions on how to effectively conduct a visit with their congressional office and how to be an effective cancer advocate in their own communities.
As corporate members, representatives from GSK were given the opportunity to witness the presentation of ACS CAN's National Distinguished Advocacy Award. This year's award recipients were Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-FL) and Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle (D). The National Distinguished Advocacy Award is ACS CAN's most prestigious advocacy honor and is awarded for leadership in the fight against cancer. In addition, corporate members were also recognized at the award reception and given the opportunity to thank ACS CAN for our continued partnership and shared commitment to helping patients and families affected by cancer.
GSK has been a corporate champion of ACS CAN since 2008. We've long supported the mission and goals of the American Cancer Society, and we value our new partnership with its sister-advocacy organization. Our partnership to date with ACS CAN has been seen in state legislative efforts to support and enact oral chemotherapy parity legislation which essentially requires state health plans to equalize patient out-of-pocket responsibilities for intravenous and oral chemotherapy agents. In addition, GSK has partnered with ACS CAN on initiatives related to the implementation of healthcare reform and state smoke-free legislation.
We look forward to continued involvement with ACS CAN and to future partnerships in working together on issues that affect cancer patients and their families.
Leave a comment