Connecticut Cancer Suppporters Go to Washington
AWARENESS
New London Day
Margaret Stevenson
Boston University Washington News Service
September 20, 2006
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 — Thousands of people from every state flooded the National Mall and Capitol Hill Wednesday to promote funding and research for cancer.
The event, titled “Celebration on the Hill,” included 39 Connecticut “ambassadors” from the American Cancer Society, plus supporters who came along to help. The “ambassadors” from each state were there to meet their congressional representatives.
“We’re asking our senators and congressmen, if they have not signed the ‘Congressional Cancer Promise’ yet, to sign it and also to reaffirm their commitment if they already signed it,” Joe Barbetta of Norwalk said, referring to the group’s legislative agenda, aimed at ending suffering and death from cancer by the year 2015.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., met with some of the Connecticut supporters and signed the group’s pledge.
“I listened to their stories,” said Lieberman, who lost his father to cancer. “It was very emotional.”
The event was kicked off by a parade of cancer survivors. Live music filled the air as the activists busied themselves, handing out cards representing their state and waving flags with their state name.
Carol Palonen of Canterbury, a registered nurse at Windham Hospital in Willimantic, said she wants increased funding for her program, the Connecticut Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Palonen said the goal of the program is to ensure all women, regardless of their insurance, get the proper breast and cervical cancer screenings.
Palonen, who lost her father to cancer last February after a 10-year battle, said the group’s pledge will help to get things done faster.
North Haven resident Caryl Sasser, one of the group’s “ambassadors,” said she hasn’t stopped fighting for the goal. Sasser, dressed in a sash that read “Survivor,” beat breast cancer seven years ago and said she is still fighting for more funds and research today.
“We are trying to have people recognize who we are,” Sasser said. “We want them to know what we are fighting for. So far, we’ve received good responses.”
Most of them wore purple T-shirts with “American Cancer Society” printed on them. The society erected a temporary “Wall of Hope,” holding 5,000 banners with more than three million signatures representing the millions of lives that have been touched by cancer.
“It makes a difference when people see the faces of cancer,” said Jane Walsh, 64, of Ledyard. Walsh, whose husband has leukemia, is a caregiver and is lobbying the Connecticut delegation.
“To cut back on funds is not acceptable,” she said. “We are trying hard to get funds up.”
Walsh said one of their main goals was to increase funding by 5 percent each year in the years to come.
An evening candlelight reflection for the survivors those who had passed on also was planned for the event, which was expected to last until 10 p.m.
“This is a celebration of lives,” said Walsh.
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