Published: June 22, 2009 12:09 pm      

Letter to the Editor 6-21-09

Dear Editor,

FACT: More than 1.4 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year. They and their families can count on the American Cancer Society, anytime, day or night for cancer information, day-to-day help, and emotional support. Our number is 1-800-ACS-2345. FACT: The American Cancer Society is a leader in the fight against cancer. Nearly 11 million Americans alive today are cancer survivors. FACT: The American Cancer Society, founded in 1913, is the nation’s largest voluntary health organization in the United States dedicated to fighting cancer. With millions of supporters and volunteers, the Society saves lives by helping people to stay well, get well, find cures, and fight back against cancer.

To eliminate cancer as a major health problem, the American Cancer Society is working to achieve aggressive goals by the year 2015:

•Reduce the age-adjusted cancer death rate by 50 percent, preventing almost five million deaths

• Reduce the age-adjusted incidence rate of cancer by 25 percent, averting nearly six million diagnoses

• Measurably improve the quality of life for people who have cancer from the time of diagnosis and for the balance of their life

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with 13 chartered Divisions throughout the country and a presence in more than 3,400 communities nationwide.

How the American Cancer Society Fights Cancer

For those who want to put their assets to work to save lives, a planned gift to the American Cancer Society is the right choice. Together we can save lives: We’re helping people stay well: We’re educating and empowering people to reduce their cancer risk by making healthy lifestyle choices like getting recommended cancer screenings, eating better, exercising, and not smoking. Last year researchers found that cancer survivors who follow the American Cancer Society’s lifestyle recommendations regarding smoking, nutrition, and physical activity were more likely to report a greater quality of life than those who don’t. We’re helping people get well: We’re helping people with cancer and their families make decisions about their care and overcome obstacles in their personal fight. In 2008, we saved cancer patients and their caregivers more than $18 million in lodging expenses by providing them a free place to stay when needing treatment far from home. We’re finding cures: We invest in research that yields groundbreaking discoveries into cancer’s causes and lead by American Cancer Society researchers, shows that for the first time in 10 years, the rate at which new cancer are diagnosed and death rates for all cancers combined are decreasing for both men and women.

We’re fighting back against cancer: Thank you for your support. This year, we helped expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), legislation that will improve access to quality health care for millions of uninsured children while saving more than 900,000 lives and preventing 1.9 million children from becoming lifelong tobacco users through an increase in the federal cigarette tax.

The public’s generous support of the American Cancer Society has allowed the organization to invest more resources toward accomplishing its mission to eliminate cancer as a major public health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from the disease through research, education, advocacy, and service. In managing the resources entrusted to us by our supporters, the American Cancer Society is committed to the highest standards of stewardship. Society programs supported by donor gifts help save lives in every community. Please contact Mary Ruth Barnes, Director of Estate and Asset Services for the national office of American Cancer Society, at (580) 332-8911, if you have any questions.



Mary Ruth Barnes, Ada