Tour aims to make cancer a No. 1 campaign issue

Thousands of signatures civer the Fight Back Express that made a stop in Sterling Friday. The bus is meant to bring attention to our elected officials, their role in policies and laws for people fighting cancer. (Alex T. Paschal/SVN photo)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

STERLING - Carol Ledford knows the devastating effects of cancer, both emotional and financial. The 57-year-old Rock Falls woman lost her husband, Douglas, 57, to pancreatic cancer in September. Her mother, Rosemary Chapinski, 76, and two uncles also died of cancer last year. Shortly after he was diagnosed, Douglas Ledford tried to gain access to Social Security funds, but was told he had to be on disability for 6 months before he could get any money. He died a month before he was eligible. The Ledfords' case isn't uncommon. Millions of people diagnosed with cancer do not have access to the health care they need. Fight Back Express, an American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network program that utilizes a tour bus to get people involved in advocating for cancer legislation, rolled into the WSDR parking lot Friday. It is on a 6-month cross-country tour highlighting the crucial role elected officials play in supporting laws and policies that help people fight cancer. The tour ends Nov. 4 in Washington, D.C. Those whose lives have been touched by cancer were encouraged Friday to share their experiences with legislators via the Internet and to volunteer with the Cancer Action Network. The bus itself is a giant petition - every inch, including the hubcaps, is covered with messages and signatures. Some are memorials to those who have died, others offer inspirational words. The tour is part of a grassroots cancer-awareness movement, media spokeswoman Audrey Pernic said. The bus stops mostly in large, metropolitan communities, but it's important not to overlook the voices of small communities, Pernic said. "What's so interesting about advocacy is that it can be a bit daunting, especially in small towns," she said. "We try to equip people with the tools to have their voices heard, all the way from the cornstalks of Illinois to the halls of Congress." Sharon Siex, 64, of Sterling, came to sign the bus and share her story of survival. Siex was diagnosed with breast cancer almost 3 years ago, and because it was detected early, she didn't need chemotherapy. This spring, though, the cancer came back. Now she's preparing for surgery and chemotherapy. "Everyone needs to know that they can join the cause of fighting this disease, and we can all move in the direction of trying to find better treatment options," Siex said. "I really do think it brings you back to reality very quickly when you deal with a health issue." Siex also has been involved in Relay for Life and other cancer causes. She hopes that by sharing her story, she can encourage others to get involved and encourage lawmakers to support cancer-related legislation. "Anyone can raise their voice, because that's what it's going to take," she said. "This is what the legislatures need to know." Betty Clementz is a Cancer Action Network volunteer from Rock Falls. Local industries have closed in the last several years, so people have lost important health insurance benefits, and those that remain in operation have reduced the benefits they offer, Clementz said. "That's why its so important that we have legislation now, so people aren't devastated by the financial aspect of cancer," she said. "The key to this whole thing is that if we want change to happen and want our government to do something about it, we need to speak up." Kim Gaffey, founder of Heartland Home Nursing, paid tribute Friday to longtime WSDR radio personality John "J.R." Rohwer, who died of lung and brain cancer in May. Like many Americans, Rohwer did not have health insurance and tried unsuccessfully to get state aid to help offset some of his medical and household bills. His is another example of the importance of encouraging legal reform, Gaffey said. "J.R. is the true picture of mid-America," she said. "The battle for cancer is not won just by treatment, but by ensuring that everyone had access to the care they need." For Ledford, the strain of watching her husband spend the end of his life fighting both the disease and the government prompted her to speak up. "It's really important to look at all these issues," she said. "I can't do anything for my husband, but I can do something to help others." To learn more For more information about the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, visit www.acscan.org on the Web.