Miss America 2024 winner Madison Marsh showed off her efforts Thursday at the Capitol to advocate for pancreatic cancer awareness and research.
In connection with Pancreatic Cancer Control Network (PanCAN), Mr. Marsh met with eight representatives on The Hill to discuss pancreatic cancer research efforts at research programs within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and Department of Defense. He asked for an increase in funding.
Marsh and Julie Fleshman, President and CEO of PanCAN, met with various members of both chambers of Congress, including members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Senate Health Committee. did.
“Life is too short,” Marsh told The Hill. “We want to make sure everyone has every possible resource to survive a disease like pancreatic cancer.”
They also met with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana).
Marsh's mother died from the disease in 2018 at just 41 years old. As part of her mission on Capitol Hill, Marsh wanted to share her story and the experiences of others affected by pancreatic cancer.
In addition to increasing NIH funding to $51.3 billion, Fleshman and Marsh also increased NCI funding to $7.93 billion, increased Department of Defense general cancer research to $25 million, and increased funding for pancreatic cancer to $25 million. advocated a special allocation for research focused on .
“We educate members of Congress about the risk factors for pancreatic cancer, the symptoms, the fact that there are no early detection tests, and there are not enough treatment options,” Fleshman said. All this by increasing research funding for this disease. ”
Pancreatic cancer is currently one of those cancers. The most difficult cancer to treatthe 5-year survival rate is only 13%.
Still, Fleshman noted that there is a lot of “momentum” in the field of pancreatic research. In 1999, when federal and philanthropic investment in pancreatic cancer research was minimal, the survival rate for the disease was only 4 percent, she said.
Mr. Marsh and Mr. Fleshman met with members of Congress who have “a personal connection to this disease,” including Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) and Rep. Terry Sewell (Alabama). Other members of Congress they met with include Rep. Steve Womack (R-Arkansas), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), and Susan Collins. (R-Maine) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Maine). -Please wash. ).
“We can't make any more change if we don't take the time and get serious about it, and it starts with the people here in Washington, D.C.,” Marsh said.
Updated at 6:40pm ET
