Colleges Against Cancer
◊ About the Club
Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) is a nationwide collaboration of college students, faculty, and staff dedicated to eliminating cancer by working to implement the programs and mission of the American Cancer Society. With hundreds of chapters nationwide, CAC is showing the world that young people care and want to make a difference.
How many college organizations do you know that involve the entire campus community and surrounding area? CAC does just that through four Strategic Directions: Advocacy, Cancer Education, Relay For Life, and Survivorship. By working to advance the mission of the American Cancer Society, the Strategic Directions are areas in which college students are easily engaged.
Advocacy
Advocacy is traditionally about working with elected officials and administrators to influence policy making in the arena of cancer awareness and prevention. This year, Advocacy would like to bring to light pending cancer-related legislation that have yet to be voted on. To further Advocacy at the local level, this committee will also present opportunities everyday students can participate in to help out and get to know those affected by cancer. Our goals are:
* Encourage members of CAC to spread the word on pending legislation and take action by contacting members of Congress.
* Recruit members to participate in outreach efforts to the survivor community.
* Inform the survivors that we meet about Relay for Life and related activities.
Random Advocacy Facts!
FACT: The federal government is the nation's largest funder of cancer research.
FACT: Insurance companies begin covering many cancer screenings - like mammogram, colonoscopies and PSA tests - because the American Cancer Society helps get laws passed requiring them to do so.
FACT: More than a dozen states and thousands of communities are now smoke-free as a result of advocacy.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Jennifer
Advocacy Chair
Cancer Education
The decisions young people make now affect their health years down the line. This is why Cancer Education is so important: if we can reach out to students now about quitting smoking, limiting alcoholic intake, and maintaining a healthy diet and active lifestyle, their chances of developing cancer years from now will be greatly diminished. Cancer Education focuses on three main aspects: Breast Cancer Awareness, Tobacco Awareness, and Nutrition and Physical Activity. Here are some events that chapters have hosted to support Cancer Education:
* Playing breast cancer bingo at a chapter meeting or event
* Encouraging people to use self-tanners instead of using a tanning bed
* Sponsoring a walk-a-thon to promote a healthy lifestyle
* Signing up volunteers for Road to Recovery
Relay For Life
Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society's signature event. This 24 hour event allows us to celebrate those who have survived, remember those we have lost, and fight back against this terrible disease. The Relay For Life committee is split into the production side and the growth side.
Production Committees:
*Entertainment
*Food
*Logistics
*Luminaria
*Registration/Accounting
Growth Committees:
*Publicity
*Sponsorship
*Team Recruitment
*Team Captain Coordinator
Survivorship
One in three Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in his or her lifetime.
The minute a person is diagnosed with cancer, they are recognized as a
cancer survivor. Survivors are the ones we're fighting for, our hope and
inspiration, our reason to keep going, our family, our friends, even our
acquaintances. They are the integral reason we fight against cancer and
CAC's Survivorship Committee provides the opportunities to celebrate, honor,
and advocate for these amazing individuals, by planning and participating
in:
*Monthly hospital visits to an Adult Oncology Unit (themed by that month's
holiday)
*Interactive activities and events for the pediatric cancer patients at
Mattel Children's Hospital (monthly)
*A supportive community for the survivors among us at UCLA
*Socials that gather and celebrate survivors
*The survivor ceremony at Relay for Life at UCLA, activities and luncheon
for survivors at the event
*Recruitment of survivors for Relay for Life via networks,events, and
hospital visits
*Providing information, ACS resources, and a scholarship for student
survivors
*other Colleges Against Cancer activities, and supporting our fellow club
members
Each CAC chapter works with an American Cancer Society staff partner. This person serves as the link between your chapter and the Society. He or she can guide you in the policies of the Society and help you think of creative ideas for your chapter.