The Power Of Purple

Communities across America, from big cities to small towns, are ready to turn purple. Help your community get ready to participate in the Relay event by spreading the word about Relay For Life in your school, your workplace or any place where people gather. It's an opportunity to invite others to take up the fight.

Sharing the Power of Purple is easy and fun! Just hang up some purple decorations, wear your favorite Relay gear or purple shirt, even screw a purple bulb into your porch light. Show your purple pride in all you do! You can pick a day to make a splash in your community, or you can encourage other Relay participants to keep the purple going until the day of your event.

Check out these Power of Purple Toolkits for ideas

• Share the Power of Purple in Your Town
• Share the Power of Purple in Your School
• Share the Power of Purple in Your College Campus
• Share the Power of Purple in Your Workplace
• Power of Purple Promotional Materials

You can find a list of upcoming Relay For Life events on the Relay For Life website. Thank you so much to all of our volunteers and communities for your continued support!

Relay For Life Events in New Mexico

We are so excited as the Relay For Life season kicks off in New Mexico!

If you haven't signed up for Relay yet, it's easy to find an event near you. You can join a team, start your own, or participate as an individual. There's a place for everyone at Relay For Life and anyone can participate!

We invite you to come out and join us as we Celebrate survivors, Remember those we have lost, and Fight Back against this disease by working with elected and appointed officials to ensure that cancer remains a top local, state and national priority. Here are the upcoming Relay events in our state:

June:

4 - Relay For Life of Hobbs, NM

4 - Relay For Life of Lincoln County, NM

4 - Relay For Life of Valencia County, NM

5 - Relay For Life of Grants, NM

11 - Relay For Life of Artesia, NM

11 - Relay For Life of Las Vegas, NM

11 - Relay For Life of Santa Fe, NM

12 - Relay For Life of Espanola, NM

18 - Relay For Life of Albuquerque, NM

18 - Relay For Life of Hildago County/Lordsburg, NM

18 - Relay For Life of McKinley County/Gallup, NM

25 - Relay For Life of Aztec, NM

25 - Relay For Life of Los Alamos, NM

25 - Relay For Life of Rio Rancho, NM

26 - Relay For Life of Del Norte/Chama, NM

26 - Relay For Life of Santa Rosa, NM

July:

16 - Relay For Life of Colfax County, NM

16 - Relay For Life of Grant County / Silver City, NM

23 - Relay For Life of Los Lunas, NM

30 - Relay For Life of Chaves County, NM

August:

6 - Relay For Life of Estancia Valley, NM

7 - Relay For Life of Taos, NM

27 - Relay For Life of Las Cruces, NM

Our goal is to create a world where more people survive cancer so they can celebrate another birthday. This year more than 11 million people will be able to do that thanks to the support of millions of dedicated Relay participants.

Please Join us for the Pink Power Game at Isotopes Park …

Sunday, April 18, 1:35 p.m. at the Albuquerque Isotopes Baseball Park on 1601 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE. Breast cancer survivors clad in pink will be on hand to sing the national anthem and throw out the ceremonial first pitch as the Albuquerque Isotopes take on the Omaha Royals.

The event will honor breast cancer survivors and raise awareness about the importance of early detection … as well as promote the American Cancer Society’s upcoming Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. The walk is Sunday, April 25, and participants can register and start anytime between 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. The five-mile walk begins at Cottonwood Mall. Anyone interested in the walk can register at informational booths at this game.

Pink water bottles promoting the Pink Power Game will be given to the first 3,000 attendees at the game. Individuals may also gather information about breast and other cancers during the evening. This information will be available at booths set up by Pink Power Game sponsors – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, First Financial Credit Union and the American Cancer Society. Also on hand to provide information will be the New Mexico Department of Health’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.

For more information about game tickets contact the Isotopes Park Box Office at 505-222-4058, or to purchase tickets over the phone call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or online please visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.albuquerquebaseball.com .

For more information about the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk visit www.cancer.org/stridesonline , call 505-559-9424, or email albuquerquestrides@cancer.org. Together we can Make a Difference, Make History and Make Strides.

2010 Making Strides Honorary Survivor

Susan Johnson, a native New Mexican, born and raised in Albuquerque has been named the honoraray survivor for the 11th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk of Albuquerque. She has been a Mortgage Loan Originator for over 20 years and has one son, Kevin, and 2 granddaughters, Maiya and Makenna. Susan is a proud supporter of the Albuquerque Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk and recently celebrated five (5) years of being cancer free.

2010 Making Strides Flagship Sponsors

The success of the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer depends on individuals, teams, and, of course, the generous support of our sponsors. Our lifesaving work in the fight against breast cancer would not be possible without the generosity of sponsoring businesses and community organizations. We recognize and thank them every chance we get, yet they’re often the ones thanking us...

Representatives from the three local corporations announced their commitment to the 11th Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk of Albuquerque. Matthew Fontana, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Mexico announced their commitment for their tenth year as a flagship sponsor. Michael Lucero, shift manager at Walmart Store #850 on Carlisle announced their eighth year as a flagship sponsor. Ben Heyward, president and CEO of First Financial Credit Union announced their second year as a flagship sponsor.

Left to right are: Geraldine Esquivel, district executive director for the American Cancer Society; Matthew Fontana, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Mexico; Ben Heyward, president and CEO of First Financial Credit Union; and Michael Lucero, shift manager at Walmart Store #850 on Carlisle.

NOTE: X-Ray Associates of New Mexico also signed on recently as a Flagship Corporate Sponsor for the walk after this photo was taken.

Governor Bill Richardson Signs Legislation for 75 Cent per Pack Cigarette Tax Increase

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson took a major step forward in protecting New Mexico's children from tobacco-related addiction and disease when he signed into law House Bill 3, a bill passed during the recent special session, increasing the tax on cigarettes by 75 cents per pack. The 75-cent increase brings New Mexico's tax to $1.66 per pack, ranking it 18th highest in the country and well above the current national average of $1.34 per pack.

House Bill 3, sponsored by Representatives Gail Chasey and Danice Picraux in the House of Representatives and Senators Dede Feldman and Mary Jane Garcia in the Senate, was the last bill passed during the 2010 special session.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, along with the American Lung Association, American Heart Association, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and New Mexicans Concerned About Tobacco championed the cigarette tax increase in New Mexico to provide current smokers an incentive to quit and to prevent youth from starting to smoke.

Currently in New Mexico, an estimated 279,000 adults and 22,000 youth smoke. Research has consistently shown that every 10 percent increase in price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking by 7 percent and cuts overall consumption by about 4 percent.

The increased tax will generate about $33 million in revenue for the state in the first year. The revenue from the tax increase will be directed to help offset cuts to various programs such as education, early childhood education, Medicaid, and other health services funded by the state's general fund.

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Hosts NM Lobby Day 2010

Nathan Bush (left), Government Relations VP for ACS CAN, was one of a number of speakers during a 2010 Lobby Day press conference in the New Mexico state capital rotunda.

Survivors, volunteers, caregivers, family and friends visited their New Mexico legislators on Thursday, January 28th urging them to pass a $1.00 cigarette tax increase and to protect master Settlement Fund Agreement funding for tobacco use and prevention control programs.

State Representative Brian Egolf and State Senator Dede Feldman both spoke of their support for a cigarette tax and their sponsoring bills regarding that tax. This tax was expected to generate over $30 million in recurring revenue earmarked for public schools, reduce the number of youth who start to smoke, and relieve the health cost burden on taxpayers for tobacco related health costs.

Opposing the bill was several tobacco lobbyists and representatives from several business groups. The House Business and Industry Committee eventually voted to table the bill effectively killing it during this short 30-day session.

Despite this bill being tabled numerous volunteers and advocates helped voice their support of ACS CAN legislative priorities and programs to help hold the line despite the budget crisis New Mexico faces.

To learn more about ACS CAN contact Traci Cadigan, New Mexico government relations director, at 505-559-9426 or Paula Wackenheim, New Mexico grassroots relationship manager, at 505-262-6014.