The Global Fight Against Cancer

Society Participates in Tobacco Control Workshop held in Uruguay

In March 2007, Catherine Jo, manager of Emerging Science and Trends for the American Cancer Society, participated in the Second InterAmerican Workshop on Research in Tobacco Control in Colonia de Sacramento, Uruguay. The workshop, which included 30 delegates from 13 Latin American countries, was organized and sponsored by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the InterAmerican Heart Foundation (IAHF), a partner and grantee of the American Cancer Society’s International Tobacco Control Program. The workshop sessions helped identify tobacco control and research priorities, as well as successful research models for Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, attendees learned about methods of collaboration among researchers and between researchers and advocates. In September 2007, a follow-up conference to this meeting will be held in Brazil to discuss tobacco control research, infrastructure, and capacity needs.

The American Cancer Society and the Framework Convention Alliance selected to host the Global Smokefree Partnership

The American Cancer Society and the Framework Convention Alliance have been selected as the new hosts of the Global Smokefree Partnership (GSP). The GSP is a multi-partner initiative working to promote smoke-free policies worldwide. It enables advocates and practitioners for smoke-free air around the world to access evidence of the benefits of smoke-free policies and take action to promote such policies, and gain assistance from a network of experts. In 2006, the GSP developed and implemented the campaign for a smoke-free FIFA World Cup, participated in the development of the World Health Organization policy recommendations on smoke-free air, and supported smoke-free efforts in Brazil, India, Kenya, and Sri Lanka through a small grants program. In 2007, GSP efforts focus on securing strong smoke-free guidelines to assist in the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control smoke-free provisions. On World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 2007, the GSP will release the first “Global Voices for Smoke-free” report on the status of smoke-free laws around the world. The American Cancer Society is honored to host this important international initiative.

Mid-South Division Helps Expand Relay For Life® in South Africa

The Society’s Mid-South Division’s collaboration with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) continues to build Relay best practices and grow the program in South Africa. Mid-South and CANSA have organized three Relays so far. The first Relay, held February 3-4 in Oudtshoorn on the Western Cape, was a volunteer-driven event with 22 teams, 513 Luminaria and 50 survivors walking the Survivor Lap. The event raised 28,000 Rand. The second event, held February 17-18 in Kroonstad in the Free State Province, included 36 teams, 49 survivors, 42 caregivers, 1,000 Luminaria bags, and raised approximately 28,000 Rand. The Kroonstad event supporters and participants reflected the broad diversity of the community and the committee recruited an additional 26 new community volunteers to take posts for the next year. On March 3 the third South African Relay in 2007 was in Rustenburg in the North West Province, drawing 66 teams, 88 survivors, and 40 caregivers. Fifteen new committee members were recruited for future Relays and the event raised an impressive 210,000 Rand to fight cancer. The CANSA leaders and volunteers have attributed their growing success to the Society’s Mid-South Division partnership, which has supported them with intensive Relay trainings on best practices and leadership skills. Early in 2007, Joe Cahoon, Mid-South Division chief executive officer, and Ryan Palmer, vice president of Constituent Services for the Mid-South Division, conducted a Relay For Life senior strategy training for CANSA leaders at regional offices. Gina Myracle, a Mid-South volunteer and Division board member, shared her passion for fighting cancer during an interactive training. CANSA staff and volunteers are thrilled with the outcome of these events.

Midwest Division Launches Freshstart® Program in Jamaica

Dr, Gary Gilmore, ACS Volunteer; Ms. Karen Prendergast, Jamaica Ministry of Health; Dr. Chris Squier, ACS Volunteer and Mrs. Marva Lee, Administrative Director of the Jamaica Cancer Society

The Society’s Freshstart smoking cessation program efforts in Jamaica gained media attention in late January with an article appearing in a major Kingston newspaper. Much has been accomplished since the first Freshstart training in Jamaica in December 2006, when more than 30 people were trained to serve as Freshstart facilitator/trainers. That training was led by Society National Assembly volunteers from the Midwest Division,  Drs. Chris Squier and Gary Gilmore. The Jamaica Cancer Society has received positive feedback after presenting before the Caribbean College of Family Physicians on the Freshstart Program at a meeting sponsored by Glaxo Smith Kline. The Jamaica Cancer Society has recently helped train 11 new facilitator/trainers in Montego Bay.