| The Event |
- Celebration on the Hill was a grassroots event celebrating cancer survivorship and empowering survivors and others to advocate for laws that will help people fight cancer.
- It took place on September 19, 2002 at the Capitol Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
- Fifty tents, one for each state, lined a track that encompasses the Capitol Reflecting Pool. Each state delegation had individuals walking the track at all times.
- A “survivors lap” opened the event and other special victory laps followed throughout the day. A luminaria ceremony, a candle lighting program honoring cancer survivors and remembering those lost to the disease, began at dusk.
- Members of Congress were invited to participate on a Congressional Host Committee, visit the track, meet with their constituents, and walk a lap with participants. Ambassadors also met with Members on Capitol Hill.
- Thousands more survivors and volunteers from across the country were also on hand to participate and show their support.
The Celebration Bus
- The Celebration on the Hill bus began its tour of the country on March 6. It traveled to more than 40 states, collecting signatures from cancer survivors and their families who believe cancer should be a national priority.
- The bus arrived in Washington, DC on September 19.
Relay Community Ambassadors
- Three thousand volunteer “Relay Community Ambassadors” selected by their local American Cancer Society units mobilized into a grassroots force to urge Congress to make cancer a national priority.
- Each of the nation’s 435 Congressional districts was represented by an Ambassador.
- In addition to traveling to Washington, the Ambassadors carry ACS’s advocacy messages to their communities through Relay For Life events and other community activities, building relationships with local, state and federal lawmakers throughout the year.
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