American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and ACS Relay Fory Life

ACS-CAN Fight Back Express Visits Michigan

The ACS Cancer Action Nework Fight Back Express Bus visited Michigan and Oakland County  July 17th. The bus going to all 48 sates for a total of 25,000 miles to promote the initiatives ACS AN is pursuing, get survivors and volunteers to tell their stories in the Picture A Cure Program and have individuals sign the nus. By the end of the tour which will be on Election day in November eight skins (Outerlayers of the bus that can be removedand saved when filled with signatures ) which will be presented to Fedral legislators.

FDA Bill and Michelle's Law Pass in the House

 The force with which our advocates pushed in just this week alone is emblematic of their tireless efforts over the past decade. In just the past 24 hours, we've had thousands and thousands of emails and phone calls from ACS CAN volunteers to Capitol Hill. In addition, for the first time ever, ACS CAN mobilized volunteers through text message e-alerts. Our Facebook and Myspace networks were also deployed. Advertisements ran in Capitol Hill publications. We also activated our volunteer structure, with Division staff partners notifying State Lead Ambassadors, Ambassador Constituent Team Leads, and other key volunteers to call Congress through 1-888-NOW-I-CAN.

And we had more good news today from the House floor, which approved Michelle's Law on a voice vote. Michelle's Law is a bill that requires health insurance companies to cover college students who are on medical leave for up to 12 months. ACS CAN was cited during the debate as one of the key leaders in the fight to pass this legislation, which will help expand access to quality health care.  

Michelle's Law will enable ill students to focus on their recovery and not whether their insurance will cover it.  It is named for Michelle Morse, a New Hampshire college student diagnosed with colon cancer. Her family’s health insurance would not cover her if she was not a full-time student, so she was forced to take a full class schedule while undergoing chemotherapy. After Michelle passed away, her mother, Society volunteer Ann Marie Morse, decided that no other student should face the same challenge. She helped pass Michelle’s Law in her state and is now working on the federal version. In fact, she and Michelle's brother joined ACS CAN and the bill's lead sponsors at a press conference this morning and for the House vote this afternoon. The action now moves to the Senate, where the bill is pending before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

West Bloomfield Relay For Life

The Relay has passed the milestone $2,000,000 mark in donations over the ten years since the first Relay was held

In spite of the economy we can be proud of having held our own and reach a total of over $342,000 in contributions and sponsorships. Record numbers of teams and sponsors participated in the evnet and all the team events leading up to the actual Relay. Now its time to start thiniking about 2009 as we start working toward our $3,000,000 total donations goal  - no iam not suggesting that as a goal for 2009, but it sure would be fun! And 2011 isn't outside the realm of possibility

New & Noteworthy

Jaeger Family:    Four grandchildren get bigger and bigger.  Whole family together at summer visit to Detroit

Friends:   News and stories from friends around the world

ACS Relay :  2008 Relay a huge success as many newcomers expand scope of the event

AEPi-Eta Chi  -Notes and news from HX brothers

ACS CAN:     June Washington Meeting and September meetings in Lansing and Washington and the Fight Back Express