In the fall of 2001, Gov. Roy Barnes announced what is undoubtedly one of the best things to happen to Georgia: the Georgia Cancer Coalition.

Launched with a single goal in mind, to make Georgia a national leader in cancer treatment and research by accelerating research, prevention, early detection, and treatment, the Georgia Cancer Coalition is a public/private partnership that will benefit all Georgians.

As the largest nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer, the American Cancer Society (ACS), Southeast Division Inc. will be a non-profit partner in this venture.

The strategic directions of the Georgia Cancer Coalition will bridge the Society's mission with the efforts of other organizations in addressing the cancer problem in Georgia.

Because cancer is the second leading cause of death in Georgia, the ACS has set goals to realize by the year 2015:

• To reduce the cancer death rate by 50%
• To reduce the occurrence of cancer by 25%

"If Georgia's population remained the same and the incidence and mortality rates did not change between now and the year 2015, over 178,000 fellow Georgians would die," said Jack Shipkoski, the ACS' chief executive officer. "The American Cancer Society, in partnership with groups such as the Georgia Cancer Coalition, can change this picture and prevent thousands of premature deaths from cancer.

"It will take the efforts of every community in Georgia to make this happen," he said. "The Society applauds Governor Barnes and the Georgia Cancer Coalition in their efforts, and we pledge to work with them in this challenging endeavor."

The Georgia Cancer Coalition is the umbrella by which the non-profits, the business community, civic groups, healthcare providers, hospitals, and research facilities will provide a cancer care network in the state of Georgia.

Central to the success of the Georgia Cancer Coalition is the cooperation of the Georgia community at-large to aid in the implementation of their primary focus areas: preventing cancer and detecting existing cancers earlier, improving access to care for those with cancer, saving more lives in the future, training researchers and caregivers, and capitalizing on the economic benefits of eradicating cancer.

The local community remains the focal point of the ACS and the Georgia Cancer Coalition. In fact, the Georgia Cancer Coalition has already approved grants of more than $385,000 for eight organizations to offer mammography screenings in 41 rural counties throughout the state. Twenty-five of these counties had no previous existing mammography service.

George Atkins, chair of the ACS Southeast Division board of directors is encouraged by the progress. "As an American Cancer Society volunteer for almost 30 years, I can truly say that I am more excited now about the prospects of saving lives from cancer than I have ever been because of the tremendous strides in research, prevention, and early detection," stated Atkins.

"Our commitment to partner with the Georgia Cancer Coalition to achieve the Society's very ambitious goals and to put Georgia on the map as a leader in the fight against cancer has never been stronger," he said. "By growing these types of partnerships and increasing awareness in the community, the American Cancer Society and the Georgia Cancer Coalition will help all Georgians benefit from the advances in early detection, prevention and treatment of cancer."