Agency Details:

American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

Description:
We have several opportunities for volunteers, including three special events that take place in the area -- Daffodil Days (March), Relay For Life (June), and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (October). We are always looking for volunteers to help in the area of advocacy, which is contacting state and federal law makers to support cancer related legislation. And, also, in the area of Cancer Control and Patient Services -- this could include a volunteer opportunity such as driving a cancer patient to an appointment.

History:
Begun in 1913 by fifteen physicians and business leaders gathered in New York City, today's American Cancer Society was first known as the American Society for the Control of Cancer (ASCC). At that time, modern medicine was still very much in its infancy. No one then understood what caused cancer and very few were sure how to treat it.

In 1936, Marjorie G. Illig, an ASCC field representative and chairman of the General Federation of Women's Clubs Committee on Public Health, created a legion of volunteers whose primary purpose was to carry the Society's message door to door. The new group, called the Women's Field Army, increased the number of people active in cancer control tenfold. More than anything else, the Woman's Field Army catapulted the ASCC from relative obscurity into the forefront of the fight against cancer.

In 1945, the organization took on the name American Cancer Society, reorganized its structure, and established a research program. Research in particular, has become a critical component of our work. Within one year of its founding, the Society's very first grantee -- Dr. Sidney Farber -- had achieved the first temporary cancer remission using a drug called aminopterin. Since then, scientists supported by the American Cancer Society have:

Established the link between cancer and smoking

Demonstrated the effectiveness of the Pap smear

Developed cancer fighting drugs and biological response modifies such as interferon

Dramatically increased the cure rate for childhood leukemia

Proved the safety and effectiveness of mammography

Defined the structure of DNA

And much, much, more.

Contact people:

Chris Symolon, (email) Tara Dickey, (email) Dorthe McSweeney, Administrative Specialist, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: 603-472-7093

Address:

2 Commerce Drive Ste 110 Bedford, NH 03110-5032 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.cancer.org

Directions:

Directions may be found at www.cancer.org   Nearest Bus Stop: none

Last updated on February 23, 2010