For being the biggest state, Alaska has a close relationship with its representatives. Lead Ambassador Johna Beech with the American Cancer Society recently traveled to Texas to meet with other state representatives from the ACA.
Beech: “I was able to meet with people throughout the entire 50 states including Washington DC and they were talking about how difficult it was for them to get the ear of their legislator and I felt it was such an incredible opportunity as an Alaskan to be able to say I run into mine in the grocery store or we attend fundraisers together or they come down and speak at our luncheons, it’s such a unique oppportunity that we have here because they are so local and they are so accessible to us.”
Beech also traveled to Juneau this year as a part of the Cancer Action Network to lobby for Senate Bill 21.
Beech: “One of the things also with us being so close to our elected officials is the proof is in the pudding, so if they promise something you can actually hold them to it in the sense that they know they are going to see you again so I don’t want to say that we have more of an honest legislator but we definitely do have more of an accountability here in Alaska because again we see them so locally.”
The ACA’s 17th Annual Relay for Life Event will kick off Friday, May 30, with opening ceremonies at Kenai Central High School.