BISMARCK, ND ( KXNET ) — Cancer kills about 1,676 people a day in the United States, and it doesn’t discriminate. That’s why the American Cancer Society (ACS) hosts its annual convention in Washington, D.C. for survivors to get together.

Bismarck cancer survivors, caregivers and advocates will travel to Washington, D.C. this weekend for the Cancer Action Network (CAN) Leadership Summit and Lobby Day, along with about 750 cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones from Guam, Puerto Rico, and every state in the U.S. They will come together to discuss a way to make cancer a national priority.

Bismarck residents Daphne Hall and Ellen Schafer, who are both cancer survivors, will head to D.C. to meet with North Dakota’s congressional delegation. They plan to discuss federal funding for cancer research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as creating a way for Medicare to cover multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests once the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves them.

“Roughly 1 in 3 people in the US 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, detect and treat cancer,” said Hall. “We are thankful to Sen. Cramer and Rep. Armstrong for co-sponsoring multi-cancer early detection legislation and want them to know that volunteers from North Dakota and every other state across the country urge them and Sen. Hoeven to take action to get this meaningful legislation passed for North Dakota Medicare recipients.”

After they meet with lawmakers, volunteers will gather at the Constitution Gardens for the annual Lights of Hope ceremony, where they will honor cancer survivors and remember those they lost to the disease.

For more information about ACS CAN, visit www.fightcancer.org .

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