Cancer Patients and Survivors to Visit State Legislators

to Urge to Make Cancer a Priority

Volunteers to Meet with New Jersey Lawmakers to Ask Support for Tobacco Control Program Funding, Cigarette Tax Increase and Funding for the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research

TRENTON, NJ– May 4, 2018 – Nearly 120 cancer patients, survivors and caregivers from across the state will travel to their state legislators’ district offices next week (May 7-11)  to meet with New Jersey’s lawmakers and staff about the need to support vital Tobacco Control Program funding, a cigarette tax increase, and funding for the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research.

More than 53,000 New Jerseyans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year, and a projected 16,000 will die from the disease. Those visiting their legislators are calling on New Jersey lawmakers to change this by taking steps to make the fight against cancer a priority. The visits are part of the annual American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) New Jersey Cancer Action Week.

“As a 23-year cancer survivor, I will let my lawmaker know if we’re going to eliminate cancer as a major health problem in New Jersey, this goal must be top of mind for our legislature,” said Bill Cronin. “By supporting appropriate funding for tobacco prevention and cessation resources, increasing our cigarette tax rate, and advocating for funding for the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research, we could ensure progress continues to reduce suffering and death from this disease.”

“We will meet with our elected leaders next week as representatives of each one of the 53,000, who are estimated to be diagnosed with cancer this year in New Jersey,” said Cronin. “New Jersey’s legislature must commit to work to eliminate cancer’s impact.”

About ACS CAN

ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit acscan.org.

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