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Frances Ruley of Lexington was among more than 700 cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones from all 50 states, Guam and Puerto Rico who were scheduled to gather in Washington, D.C., yesterday, Tuesday, as a part of Leadership Summit & Lobby Day.
As Congress works to identify 2024 priorities ahead of a Sept. 30 budget deadline, volunteers with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) are urging their elected officials to take specific steps to make cancer a national priority and help end a disease that still kills roughly 1,670 people a day in this country.
Ruley began volunteering for ACS CAN shortly after her first cancer diagnosis in 1999. Over two decades later and three additional cancer diagnoses under her belt — with the latest in May 2023 — Ruley said beforehand that she was eager to continue the fight in D.C., giving a voice to those whose cancer journeys had a different ending than hers.
“Frances Ruley is the consummate advocate,” said Marc Mazza, senior grassroots manager for ACS CAN in Virginia. “Frances understands what cancer patients need, what they lack and how to fix that. I am incredibly proud to work with her at the federal, state and local level to advocate for cancer patients — past, present and future,” he continued.
As a part of Leadership Summit & Lobby Day, Ruley was scheduled to meet with Rep. Ben Cline and Senators Warner and Kaine to discuss the need to support an increase in federal funding for cancer research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She was to ask them to support a bill which would waive out-of-pocket costs for individuals with the highest risk of prostate cancer, including Black men and those with a family history of the disease. Additionally, she was to ask members to support legislation to create a pathway for Medicare to cover new multi-cancer early detection tests once they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and proven effective.
After meeting with her lawmakers, she was to join her fellow volunteers at the Constitution Gardens to honor cancer survivors and remember those who have been lost to the disease during the annual Lights of Hope ceremony. Illuminated bags decorated with the names of those who have faced a cancer diagnosis were displayed as a powerful message of hope.
“Roughly one in three Americans will hear the words ‘you have cancer’ in their lifetime,” said Ruley. “We want our lawmakers to know that volunteers from Virginia, and from every state across the country, are counting on them to take a stand for the countless people in their districts who’ve been impacted by the disease.”
