I first became involved with the American Cancer Society because we have lost several members of our family to cancer. We now have five family members who are now fighting cancer. Progress with new treatments and research has made such a difference for them. They are survivors and, thanks to the American Cancer Society, they will continue to enjoy their lives.

Celebration On The Hill may not be a familiar phrase to many of you, but it clearly will be my focus as I join 4,000 American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteers and several thousand additional supporters of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network for a huge Relay For Life event on the historic Mall at the foot of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 19 and 20.

We will meet with members of Congress and the House of Representatives to tell them our stories and how their votes will affect cancer patients and their families worldwide.

We will ask them to reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Health Program and to sign on to the Cancer Promise, which is our 2015 goal to reduce deaths caused by cancer and to make this a manageable condition. The American Cancer Society has made great progress in the past four years, clearly showing that prevention and early detection saves lives.

We ask your readers to, please, light candles at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 20 to show support of cancer survivors everywhere and in support of our efforts.

Diane Mitchell, Rumford