×

Elkins woman to meet congressional leaders

ELKINS — Nearly 700 cancer patients, survivors, volunteers and staff from all 50 states and nearly every congressional district will unite in Washington, D.C. today as part of the annual American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Leadership Summit and Lobby Day.

Advocates will ask Congress to take specific steps to make cancer a national priority and help end a disease that still kills 1,670 people a day in this country.

Rosemary Thomas from Elkins will meet with Congressman David McKinley and U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito to discuss the need to support an increase in federal funding for cancer research. She will also ask them to co-sponsor legislation that supports patients’ quality of life and to support legislation that would close a loophole in Medicare that often results in surprise costs for older Americans when a polyp is found during a routine colonoscopy.

Thomas has had several family members diagnosed with cancer including most recently her mother. She unfortunately has lost family members to cancer, including her grandmother. Through her firsthand experiences with cancer, Rosemary has become a passionate advocate for cancer research funding and quality of life for cancer patients.

“Roughly one in three Americans will hear the words ‘you have cancer’ in their lifetime. We need a full and unwavering commitment from Congress to take action to help prevent and treat cancer,” said Thomas. “We want our lawmakers to know that volunteers from West Virginia, and from every state across the country, are counting on them to take a stand.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today