Childhood Cancer Action Day
Registration is now open for this year's Childhood Cancer Action Days
The two-day advocacy program held in the Washington, DC area (Alexandria, VA) on June 17-18, 2013, is presented by the Alliance for Childhood Cancer. The program provides parents, children, and others with the opportunity to advocate for important childhood cancer issues currently before Congress. The program includes issues training and pre-arranged Capitol Hill visits with members of Congress and staff.
Rooms are available at the Residence Inn Alexandria at Carlyle at a room rate of $218 per night, including breakfast on Tuesday. The hotel is accepting reservations on a first-come, first-served basis until May 20th. Please contact the hotel at 703-549-1155.
The Alliance for Childhood Cancer is a coalition of 26 national patient advocacy, professional, medical and scientific organizations - including the Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy - that advocate on behalf of children with cancer.
Registration is limited to 150 participants - register today!
More information:
- Monday, June 17, 1:00 - 6:30 p.m. Training and issues presentation
- Tuesday, June 18, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Kick-off and Hill visits
- Transportation to/from Childhood Cancer Action Day is the responsibility of those attending.
- The training will take place at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Old Town Alexandria, VA. ASCO is located just a few subway stops from Ronald Reagan National Airport, and the hotel is across the street from ASCO. The Alliance will provide buses to and from Capitol Hill on the 18th for Congressional Visits.
About the Alliance for Childhood Cancer
Founded in 2001, the Alliance for Childhood Cancer is a forum of twenty-six national patient advocacy groups, and medical and scientific organizations. These organizations meet regularly in Washington, DC to share ideas and concerns and work collaboratively to advance policies leading to improved research, public education, and diagnosis, treatment, supportive care and survivorship for children and adolescents with cancer.
On behalf of the Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy and the Alliance for Childhood Cancer, I look forward to seeing you in Washington, DC in June.
If you have any questions, please contact Maureen Lilly at 202.336.8375 or mlilly@childrenscause.org.
Alliance Full Member Organizations:
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American Childhood Cancer Organization
American Society of Clinical Oncology
American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Association of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Nurses
Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers
B+ Foundation
Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation
Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy
Children’s Oncology Group
CureSearch for Children's Cancer
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
National Children’s Cancer Society
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
Sarcoma Foundation of America
Society of Pediatric Psychology
St. Baldrick’s Foundation
Alliance Partner Organizations:
American Pediatric Surgical Association
American Psychological Association
American Society for Radiation Oncology
Cancer Support Community
Chai Lifeline
Livestrong Foundation
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
Patient Advocate Foundation
2012 Action Day
Advocates from 29 States Visit Capitol Hill, Enlist 20 New Congressional Supporters
Childhood Cancer Action Days, on June 4-5, 2012, hosted by the Children’s Cause and other members of the Alliance for Childhood Cancer, brought over 150 advocates to participate in 170 meetings on Capitol Hill. Virtual advocates from around the country joined the effort online.
An onsite training day educated participants on childhood cancer issues currently before Congress and how to be effective advocates on the Hill. CCCA's long-time Board Member John Stewart spoke as part of the Issues Panel, along with several Capitol Hill staffers. The following day families asked their Congressional representatives to support provisions in the pending FDA reform bill that can benefit children with cancer.
Advocates’ request to members of Congress to co-sponsor the Childhood Cancer Survivorship Act resulted in four new Senators and eight House members signing on to a bill designed to improve research and follow up services for children surviving cancer. Advocates also urged members to join the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus, resulting in eight additional House members volunteering in a bipartisan coalition to bring greater attention to the needs of patients and survivors. About 40 children, including patients and survivors, walked the halls of Congress with the adult advocates. Seven-year-old Brooke and her mother were profiled in this local DC television story. The Hill’s online events page, The Washington Scene, also covered the event. Photos below courtesy of photographer Mark Saunders (click thumbnail to enlarge).
CCCA has held a Survivors' Lobby Day every Spring since 2008, bringing together childhood cancer survivors and family members on Capitol Hill for a day of mobilizing against childhood cancer. The program combines a training workshop to familiarize survivors with the federal legislative process, key issues, and effective messaging strategies with scheduled visits with Congressional Members and staff.