Making the cancer fight a top priority

The very moment a person hears the words “you have cancer,” they deal with anxiety and fear, followed by pain and side effects of treatment and the lingering physical symptoms of survivorship.

Last week, I was honored to travel to Washington, D.C., with nearly 700 American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) members from across the country to urge Congress to make cancer a national priority.

Together, we called on Congress to support lifesaving policies, helping prevent and better treat cancer. We asked legislators to increase federal funding for cancer research, backing legislation to improve patient quality of life and removing cost barriers to colorectal cancer screenings for Medicare recipients.

I met with Rep. Virginia Foxx and representatives of Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, and Rep. Mark Warner, and stressed to them that cancer is nonpartisan, and that Congress should seize the opportunity to pass critical legislation to help end cancer as we know it.

I also let our lawmakers know that North Carolinians are watching; relying on them to support legislation to help reduce the cancer burden, potentially making cancer history. With more than 1,670 people dying from cancer daily, there must be legislative action on these important issues.

I encourage you to join us, giving us a stronger and louder voice in this fight. Visit acscan.org to connect with people like me in your community.

— Anne Ezell
Volunteer, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)
Clemmons, N.C.

 

A life well lived

Bert Bennett, Jr., a veteran of the Normandy Invasion and WWII, passed away recently at 97 years of age. He would never volunteer his in-the-trenches service to you, because he was a person of humility. This humility and his easy but perceptive view of things drew governors and even presidential hopefuls to his door, and regular folks like you and me. He just had that thing about him.

He was a political person, although he never ran for political office. But he did not let his politics separate him from others with different views. And for that special quality alone he stood out in today’s political climate.

He inspired so many by his leadership example. He served his family, his faith, his country and his community and state, but he never sought the limelight. Many reading this can tell you to this day the times Bert Bennett helped them along the leadership path of service.

If he could give us any parting advice in this sometimes contentious world in which we live, he would pull out his always-present small-ringed pad from his shirt pocket (purchased at a Dollar-type store) and tell us this: serve your family, your faith, your community, and participate as a responsible citizen. Find things which unite you rather than divide you from others, even in politics. It’s okay to listen. Be good for goodness’ sake. And quietly do more than your fair share.

As he did.

Godspeed, Bert Bennett.

— R. Michael Wells
Winston-Salem

 

The truth about education spending

I attended a community debate forum at the main library on Wednesday, Sept. 26, hosted by the Forsyth County Parent Teacher Association. Rep. Debra Conrad and Senator Joyce Krawiec knocked it out of the park as they were ready with facts to inform the public with the truth about education spending, teacher salaries and the challenges in achieving better results for the students.

Their Democrat opponents were beating the same old tired drum that taking more money out of the pockets of hardworking taxpayers is the answer to the problems with public education. The audience was held hostage having to listen to their talking points. The new extreme liberal wing of the Democrat party that the two opponents represent want higher personal income taxes, corporate taxes and are against the constitutional amendment to cap the tax rate for individuals at 7 percent.

One attendee on the front row got so frustrated he yelled out “It is my money” and stormed out of the forum. I implore the voters to research the truth about all the wonderful initiatives that Republicans such as Rep. Debra Conrad and Senator Joyce Krawiec are doing for our kids to give them a brighter future. Please don’t believe all the fake news and lies on the negative Democrat TV ads. Search out the truth before you vote.

— Lori Apple
Lewisville

Supporting Ted Budd

Along with his Republican colleagues and the support of President Trump, Congressman Ted Budd has worked to bring the American economy to its highest performance level in decades. “Help wanted” signs are everywhere, wages are higher and taxes are lower. In just a year and a half we have seen remarkable improvements in all of these categories. Yet the Democratic challenger for District 13, well funded by outside sources, runs ads many times a day offering to go to Washington to help create “well-paying jobs” for hard working families. She promises not to support Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House should the majority switch to the Democratic Party. Recently Pelosi was quoted as saying that Democratic candidates should lie to constituents if necessary because they must have a majority after November so they can impeach the president. Try to imagine Nancy Pelosi running the House of Representatives and being third in line for the presidency! Think about Diane Feinstein, as chair of the Judicial Committee, and Maxine Waters in a leadership position. For the sake of America I urge voters to go to the polls and cast their ballots in District 13 to return Ted Budd to Congress.

— Joan Fleming
Advance