Features
McCullough takes cancer fight to Capitol Hill steps
There is a new ambassador in town and, in September, she will take her fight to the Hill.
The American Cancer Society has named Dr. Mary McCullough an ambassador to represent Decatur County at Celebration on the Hill 2006, a national event to be held Sept. 19-20 in Washington, D.C.
McCullough, chief of staff at Decatur County Memorial Hospital, will be one of approximately 10,000 ambassadors, cancer survivors and volunteers from around the country to lobby members of Congress in the fight against cancer.
Bill Riley of the American Cancer Society stated McCullough was one of a large pool of applicants from the Great Lakes Division, which includes Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, and one of more than 80 selected. He noted her background and commitment stood out from others.
“She’s been an advocate and volunteer for years, so she really knows the American Cancer Society,” Riley said.
McCullough said her selection was a great honor and she looked forward to the trip. Despite her local commitment to volunteering, McCullough said she understands the importance of her role in this event.
“I’ve seen how important it is for fundraising at the county level,” she said. “As a doctor, I can see how important funding on a national level can be.”
McCullough and the other estimated 10,000 advocates will converge on Washington, D.C., for the Celebration on the Hill in September. There will be a Relay for Life around the National Mall, numerous tents with representatives from every state in the Union and a Wall of Hope - a banner chronicling cancer survivors messages of good will and survival that will stretch four city blocks. McCullough said she is excited about the luminary ceremony, which will be a massive light display representing the all the cancer patients in the nation.
Even though there are a myriad of events slated, Riley noted there is a more important mission besides solidarity.
“It’s a celebration but it also draws attention to Congress,” he said. “They can make changes through effective legislation.”
McCullough agreed the summit with representatives with Congress will be the most important focus for her trip.
“I’m interested in colon cancer legislation because it does seem like a lot of cases are being diagnosed,” she said. “The actual celebration is to educate legislators.”
With so many problems ailing the country, it may seem lobbying Congress for cancer policies might not be the most important priority on the docket. Riley and McCullough disagree.
“It’s a pertinent issue because we’ve seen a decrease in deaths, which means we are winning against cancer, but we are a long way from winning the war,” Riley said. “This is no time to pull back funding.”
McCullough, who sees cancer on a regular basis, hopes the war can be won and that which strengthens her commitment.
“I look forward to a day when cancer is wiped out. I look forward to a day when I won’t feel sick to my stomach after looking at someone’s chest X-ray and knowing I have to walk back into the room and tell them about the tumor I see,” she said. “I look forward to the day that cancer is an old diagnosis in medical books, something no one sees.”
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