Approximately 496,000 Americans died in the five wars fought in this
century. But cancer takes the lives of 550,000 Americans each year. In
an attempt to help win the war against cancer, THE MARCH, a national campaign
to make cancer the nations number one health priority, has been organized.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center Eppley Cancer Center, which
is one of more than 50 National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers
and the only NCI-designated cancer center in the six-state region, will
join other organizations to host a local MARCH event.
Locally, people will gather in Lincoln at 9:30 a.m., on Saturday, Sept.
26 to support THE MARCH. Nebraskans are encouraged to gather at the North
Centennial Mall between Q and R. Supporters will then march to the capital
rotunda where Gov. and Mrs. Nelson will begin the program at approximately
10 a.m. Other speakers will include Barry Gold, Ph.D., associate director
of the University of Nebraska Medical Center Eppley Cancer Center
and interim director Eppley Cancer Institute; Mark Hutchins, M.D., of Nebraska
Hematology-Oncology, and DiAnna Schimek, Nebraska Senator and cancer survivor.
THE MARCH as an event is a one-day public demonstration about cancer.
THE MARCH as a movement is a vehicle for significant change in the ways
we think about and deal with cancer and cancer policy–locally and nationally,
said Ellen Stovall, a two-time cancer survivor and president of THE MARCH.
The local event in Lincoln will happen simultaneously with national
activities in Washington, D.C., being led by Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf,
U.S. Army Ret. As part of the national activities, an honor roll, which
displays the names and/or photographs of people who have lost their lives
to cancer, has been created. Names for the honor roll can be submitted
by email at honorroll@themarch.org, by fax at (202) 861-3326 or by mail,
attention: Honor Roll/Operations and Logistics, 1730 K Street, NW, 4th
Floor, Washington, D.C. 20006. Photos should be no larger than 2 x 3
and will not be returned. The deadline for submitting names or photos is
Sept. 18.
A wall of courage also has been created to pay tribute to the thousands
of Americans throughout history whose lives have been touched by cancer.
It consists of 53 panels, one for each state plus three U.S. territories.
It will be decorated on both sides with photos, artwork, poems, stories
and letters. Items for the wall of courage should be brought to the event
in Washington, D.C.
THE MARCH activities in Washington D.C. include a candlelight vigil,
interfaith services, educational displays and a rally on the mall. All
of the activities are visual components that will help communicate the
extreme impact cancer has on the U.S.
All of us have been closely affected by cancer in some way. Perhaps
it has touched a family member or friend. Some of us have had a personal
experience with the disease, said Margaret Tempero, M.D., deputy director
and interim director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. Part of the war
against cancer involves testing the treatments of tomorrow on patients
who are affected today. This can only happen with improved funding for
clinical research.
Donald S. Coffey, Ph.D., president of the American Association for Cancer
Research and professor of oncology and pharmacology and molecular sciences
at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said for every $10
paid in taxes, funding for the war on cancer only receives one penny. Dr.
Coffey is the invited speaker for the Carol Bell lecture series at the
UNMC Eppley Cancer Center on Sept. 16.
A significant increase in research funding will speed up the development
of new more effective cancer treatments and eventually save numerous lives,
said Dr. Gold. There are more promising leads to pursue than ever before
in regard to cancer prevention and treatment.
Cancer survivors, their families, friends and supporters are asked to
join the war against cancer. Anyone attending the 2:30 p.m. Nebraska vs.
Washington football game is encouraged to arrive early and participate
in THE MARCH. During half time, cancer survivors and their families will
be asked to stand and be recognized for their fight against cancer. Minimal
parking is available in the lot adjacent to the governors mansion at 16th
and H streets. Transportation will be available to shuttle people to the
starting point of the march.
For more information on national activities, please contact THE MARCH
headquarters at (202) 861-0998. Sponsors for the local event include the
Aidan ONeil Foundation, American Cancer Society, Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity,
BryanLGH Medical Center, Childrens Hospital, the Eastern Nebraska Office
on Aging, Leukemia Society, Methodist Cancer Center, Metro Omaha Oncology
Nursing Society, Nebraska Health System and the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.