Advocacy Leaders Rallied Together In November
On Nov. 4, we partnered with one of our industry champions, Celgene, to host a briefing on pancreatic cancer at the Michigan state house. With the help of our advocates, we were able to recruit dozens of Michigan legislators and their staff to attend the briefing, where they learned more about the disease and how clinical trials are impacting pancreatic cancer research. Later that day, the Michigan Senate and House both unanimously approved a resolution declaring Nov. 13 as World Pancreatic Cancer Day in Michigan.
Michigan was far from the only state to recognize World Pancreatic Cancer Day this year. In fact, a total of 26 states passed resolutions or issued proclamations commemorating the day. Overall, 635 municipalities around the country issued proclamations this year. To see if your state, city or county participated, check out our 2015 Proclamations Map. Later this month, we’ll be asking all volunteers who helped secure these proclamations to take the next step by sharing a copy of it with their members of Congress.
In the days leading up to World Pancreatic Cancer Day, we asked our advocates to contact their members of Congress and urge them to wear purple, hold up a Wage Hope card and then post their picture online on Nov.13. Remarkably, almost 40 members of Congress, state legislators and congressional staff posted pictures of themselves on Facebook or Twitter that day! Our Advocacy Leaders around the country, having built strong relationships with their elected officials, were the key to achieving this incredible display of support from Congress.
For a list of legislators who participated in World Pancreatic Cancer Day or for more information about any of our advocacy programs, please contact Jack Coleman at jcoleman@pancan.org.
Archives