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Ashley Hayes ReportingThousands of cancer survivors and advocates are in Washington DC this morning. They are there for an event called Celebration on the Hill, and will be asking Congress for a lot of money.
Utah sent its own ambassadors to represent the state. One of them is a cancer survivor herself.
Eyewitness News sat down with longtime Nephi resident Iris Tolley before she left for DC.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer 13 years ago this month, and it has become her personal crusade to spread awareness about the disease and raise money for cancer reseach.
Iris Tolley, Cancer Survivor, Utah Ambassador: "It affects everyone. It affects our grandchildren, our cousins. There isn't anyone it doesn't affect."
Tolley is one of fourteen Utahns participating in Celebration on the Hill. Overall, ten-thousand people are expected to attend.
This is the second year the American Cancer Society has held the event. It is expected to be the organization's largest rally yet.
Scott Thompson, Utah Chapter American Cancer Society: "Really the purpose behind it is to bring people together from all over the country. We'll have ambassadors from every congressional district in the country converge on Washington DC."
The goal this year, as was the goal two years ago when the last celebration was held, is to raise money for cancer research and pay for uninsured women's breast and cervical screenings.
In addition to meeting with members of Congress, participants will host a relay for life, light luminaries, and share their personal endeavors with the crowds.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 6-thousand Utahns are diagnosed with cancer each year, and in 2006 half that many will die from the disease.
Thompson says Congress has reduced federal funding and research dollars are down by forty million dollars this year. They hope that won't be the case when Tolley and the others return home at the end of the week.
