Relay Co-Founder Heading To Washington As Connecticut’s Latest Ambassador To American Cancer Society

By John Voket

Having served as one of the original co-founders of the Newtown Relay For Life, as well as working in the medical field as an RN and then as a marketing professional for Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Newtown resident Mary Marinaccio has encountered many individuals who have been “touched by cancer.” But anyone who gets to know Ms Marinaccio might better describe her as an individual who has been bowled over numerous times by cancer — without ever being directly touched by it herself.

During a brief conversation at her Newtown home last weekend, the former nurse and cancer treatment expert related that she has lost an aunt and a brother-in-law to cancer, as well seeing her mother, brother, and two sisters suffer with the disease.

While no one would likely wish to amass that depth of experience, her many encounters with cancer and its treatment will serve Ms Marinaccio well as the American Cancer Society’s latest Connecticut Ambassador recruit to represent Newtown at Celebration on the Hill 2006, a nationwide event to be held in Washington, D.C., September 19 and 20.

Ms Marinaccio will join 39 other state representatives engaging members of Congress in the fight against cancer. In this role, Ms Marinaccio will be among 10,000 fellow Celebration Ambassadors, cancer survivors, and volunteers from every congressional district in the country at the event, which is being hosted by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM.

During the event, she will meet with lawmakers to demand that Congress make cancer a national priority by boosting the federal commitment to cancer research and programs. Participants will also converge upon the National Mall to share stories about how their lives have been touched by cancer. Celebration Ambassadors are community leaders, survivors, caregivers, health professionals, cancer researchers, and volunteers who believe that defeating cancer will require courageous policy decisions by government officials at the federal, state, and local levels.

Armed with first-hand knowledge about the disparity between individuals who are blessed with private health care coverage and those on publicly funded Medicaid care, Ms Marinaccio believes she can bring a unique level of passion and focus to the issue when she speaks to national political leaders in Washington.

“My brother-in-law suffered with kidney cancer, but thankfully he had good private insurance coverage,” she recalled. “But my second sister, who had breast cancer treatment and was between jobs when she was diagnosed, unfortunately was receiving Medicaid coverage, which was drastically different.”

In fact, thanks to her nursing background, Ms Marinaccio was able to accompany her sister from the hospital the day after her breast cancer surgery, “when she was sent home with all sorts of tubes hanging out of her and instructions on how to take care of herself.”

“Part of the American Cancer Society’s goal, and mine as an ambassador, is to try and reduce the inequity between privately insured cancer care and those who are on Medicaid or uninsured,” she said.

Working With Bayer

Along with her personal and professional nursing and caregiving exposure, Ms Marinaccio also had several opportunities to help Bayer launch cancer-fighting drugs that gained federal approvals and are currently being used in the widespread treatment of certain cancers, particularly prostate cancer.

Although her duties as a caregiver to her family members kept her from direct involvement in the Newtown Relay last year, and her ambassador work will keep her very occupied in a different arena this year, Ms Marinaccio is still a strong advocate for the local event, which is scheduled for June 10–­11 at Newtown High School.

“I would challenge everyone who is touched by cancer to get involved in some way as a participant, team leader, or volunteer,” she said. “But I further challenge all the corporate professionals in Newtown to create donations and take them to their corporate philanthropy representatives to inquire about matching funds that are often made available to employees.”

She said the pre-event activities, as well as the Relay itself, provide “great ways for neighbors to get to know each other, and to feel good about what they are doing for the cause, as well as others right here in Newtown.”

According to Sarah Shafir, the American Cancer Society’s state vice president of cancer control, in 2006, an estimated 1,399,790 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer and an estimated 564,830 will die from the disease.

“In Connecticut alone, we will see an estimated 17,320 new cases and 6,990 deaths,” she said. “Mary Marinaccio knows the personal side of these statistics. We are honored that she will be carrying our message about making cancer funding a national priority to Members of Congress.”

The federal government plays a critical role in reducing the cancer burden on this country. In December, Congress passed legislation that cut the budget of the National Institutes of Health for the first time in 35 years and reduced funding for cancer research for the first time in a decade. Ambassadors will work to restore and increase federal funding for lifesaving cancer research and programs at the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In addition, ambassadors will work to reduce cancer’s disproportionate burden on the underserved by asking Congress to reauthorize and expand the CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Increasing funding by just $45 million would enable the program to serve an additional 130,000 or more women.

Make A Difference

To help make a difference locally, volunteers are invited to the next open meeting for the Newtown Relay, which is set for next Wednesday, May 3, at 7 pm, at Newtown High School. Or consider supporting one or more of these local team or Relay fundraisers:

A Pampered Chef Party, sponsored by Linda Mazzeo Tuesday, May 2, at 7:30 pm. RSVP by email for more information at: jlmazzeo@charter.net

An evening of friends, chocolate and TLC (professional massages) to benefit TTP–Relay For Life is set for April 29, at 7pm. Donation for this event is $10. The location will be provided upon calling to RSVP. Interested readers are asked to do so by April 28 at 270-7441.

On Friday, April 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, at Middle Gate School, there will be games and snacks with teachers and staff. Donations will be taken at the door and snacks will be sold. Call Nancy Fazekas at 426-3802 for information on this family activity.

A Community Tag Sale is set for Saturday, April 29, 9 am to 3 pm, at the St Rose Parking Lot. Donations needed of “gently used” items to be sold by parish by Cubs (proceeds to be donated to Relay). Spaces are available for $25 to hold your own tag sale with proceeds to be donated to the building fund.

Call Ambi Moore, 241-9789, or Gina Long, 270-8240, for more information.

A movie night featuring Nanny McPhee is set for May 5 at the Reed School. Hosted by Walking for a Silver Lining Team, refreshments and toys will be sold as fundraisers. The public is welcome to attend.

Another Pampered Chef party is planned Friday, May 5, 7 pm to 9 pm, t Sandy Hook School. The public is welcome, email your RSVP to Gina Long: GLong@daymon.com.

Cubs for a Cure will hold a Car Wash at St Rose on Sunday, May 7, from 7 am to 1:30 pm. Cars will be washed and vacuumed. Drop your car off before Mass and pick it up after. For more information, contact Gina Long at 270-8240.

Newtown Bee Associate Editor John Voket’s next Monthly Paint the Town Purplefest at Mocha Coffeehouse Sandy Hook Center is set for Saturday, May 13, from 7:30 to 10 pm. Match John’s hourly donation for the 2006 Relay and put in your song request!