Cancer impacts us all. A nationwide group of advocates is working to gain donations and spread awareness all the way to Congress.

Vicksburg resident Pearl Carter will join more than 600 people in Washington, D.C., the second week of September for the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network. Carter is the lead advocate for the second of four congressional districts in Mississippi.

The group is convening in D.C. to lobby Congress for more funding for cancer research and to honor and remember those who have struggled with cancer.

“Each year we usually have three or four primary initiatives. One is always to ask for research money,” she said.

The group is advocating two bills for the second year in a row. One bill will close a loophole in how people are charged for colorectal screenings, and the second bill is for the expansion of specialized medical care.

“We have high hopes that both of those bills will pass this year,” Carter said.

Over the years she said funding has not been cut for cancer research but it has not been adjusted for inflation either.

“Because of that, the funds were actually less than they would have been if they had been increased to accommodate for inflation,” she said.

She said in the past decade funding for cancer research has actually dropped 22 percent because no adjustment was made.

In addition to promoting funding cancer research, the ACSCAN advocates will hold a ceremony Sept. 13 in honor and memory of those who have had cancer. Lights of Hope luminaire bags will line the reflecting pool in front of the U.S. Capitol. Bags can be purchased in honor or in memory of anyone who has had cancer and their name will be written on the bag.

“These Lights of Hope serve to remind me that each of us can be a light for a cure for cancer,” she said.

Carter at the first ever ceremony there were 13,000 lights of hope and this year she expects there will be over 20,000.

The ceremony, she said, is a time of reflection.

“It’s very impressive and emotional time. It’s a time of reflection on those fighting the battle, those who have lost the battle — family and friends,” she said.

Purchasing a $10 Light of Hope also pays for a one-year membership to ACSCAN.

“With that membership you’ll get emails throughout the tear. More so around the time the state or the federal legislatures are meeting. You’ll be asked to participate in action items,” Carter said.

Lights of Hope can be purchased at acscan.org/canraiser.

To support Carter, click on the square with HOPE, enter her name in “Support a Participant or Team” and click search, click her name and then click donate. Donations must be made by Monday, Sept. 5.