Tennessee Governor Declares Cancer Awareness a Priority

Governor Phil Bredesen signed a proclamation declaring June 2007 as cancer awareness month in Tennessee.

Nashville, TN (PRWEB) June 25, 2007 -- Governor Phil Bredesen signed a proclamation declaring June 2007 as cancer awareness month in Tennessee. In Tennessee more than 32,000 people are diagnosed with cancer and 12,000 deaths occur from cancer each year. The proclamation focuses on public awareness and knowledge and encourages Tennesseans to work together to increase awareness of all cancers and to promote continued research into the causes and a cure for cancer.

The proclamation is part of the Governors' Proclamation Project, launched by the ASCEND Foundation earlier this year. The goal of the project is to have the governor of each state sign a proclamation declaring cancer awareness a priority in their state. Tennessee is the second state behind South Carolina to sign such a proclamation. "Our hope is that with the announcement of the proclamation, the citizens of each state will then be called to action and enlist in our fight to end cancer by making it a national priority," says Hope Gamble, executive director of the ASCEND Foundation.

ASCEND encourages individuals to track the status of their governor's pledge through a digital map on their Web site. In addition, they can send a message to their governor and other elected officials, asking them to participate in this program as well as access other tools needed to mobilize millions to speak up about the causes of cancer and what cancer is doing to our society.

The ASCEND Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending cancer by empowering people to speak up so our country will make cancer a national priority by creating a unified voice state by state, community by community, person by person. ASCEND, which stands for Anne Scandalios Cancer Ends Now Directive, was formed in 2001 as the result of Anne Scandalios' battle against breast cancer. Although Anne lost her battle with cancer, the ASCEND Foundation through Anne's spirit continues her mission to end cancer by making it a national priority. To learn more about ASCEND, its programs and current efforts to eradicate cancer, visit www.ascendfoundation.org or call (843) 225-4055.

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