PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is calling on Maine candidates to clearly state their commitments to fighting cancer, a disease that continues to kill more than 1,600 people a day in this country.
On Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 6 p.m., cancer survivors and ACS CAN volunteers will gather at the Hampton Inn in Presque Isle for a Cancer Votes Eat & Greet, a non-partisan opportunity for local voters to interact with candidates for state and federal office and to find out where the candidates stand on legislative issues relating to cancer and educate the public and candidates on these issues.
As part of the Cancer Votes program, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is contacting federal and state candidates across the country in a nationwide effort to encourage candidates to state their positions on laws and policies that help people fight cancer. This effort is part of ACS CAN’s national Cancer Votes campaign – the nation’s leading voter education program informing the public and candidates about the actions lawmakers should take to make fighting cancer a national priority.
As part of this year’s efforts in Maine, ACS CAN sent questionnaires to all candidates in the Maine gubernatorial race and asked them to clearly state their positions on tobacco prevention and control, access to healthcare, and patient quality of life. ACS CAN is strictly non-partisan and does not endorse, oppose or contribute to any candidate or political party.
Approximately one in three Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Government officials at the federal, state, and local level make decisions every day that impact the ability of people with cancer or who are at risk of cancer to prevent and fight the disease. ACS CAN encourages candidates to share their positions on issues that matter to people with cancer – a disease that this year will be diagnosed in an estimated 8,600 Mainers and will kill over 3,300 people in the state.
To RSVP or if you have questions, contact amber.herting@cancer.org. For more information about Cancer Votes, visit www.cancervotes.org.
