On Saturday, Sept. 26, South Carolinians will gather on the State House grounds in Columbia to encourage elected officials to make cancer the nation’s top health care priority by increasing funds for cancer research and ensuring access to quality care for all Americans.

The event, Coming Together to Conquer Cancer: The Rally in South Carolina, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

“Approximately 16,500 South Carolinians are diagnosed with cancer each year, and about 7,614 will die,” said Mary Bethea of the S.C. Women’s Cancer Coalition. “So many of these could be avoided if we had a concerted effort and commit resources to continue advancements in cancer prevention, early detection and care.”

Organizations and individuals from throughout the state will participate. The South Carolina rally is a family event and will feature a program of speakers, music and refreshments. It is free and open to the public.

The rally is part of a national movement and cancer event known as The March, which will take place on the same day in Washington, D.C., along with other events throughout the country. The coordinating committee for the rally includes: The American Cancer Society, Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, Greenville Hospital System, MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, Palmetto Health Alliance, S.C. Women’s Cancer Coalition and Trident Medical Center.

For more information on the South Carolina rally, call Shannon Raglin at 792-7994.

• One in two men and one in three women will develop cancer in their lifetime.
• Cancer is the number one killer of children under age 15.
• 1.5 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and more than 550,000 will die (1,500 per day).
• Cancer costs more than $115 billion per year in direct medical costs and lost productivity.
• For every $10 the government collects in taxes, it spends only one cent on cancer research.