Iowans ask Congress for more money for Cancer research

Two Iowans who volunteer with the American Cancer Society are in Washington, D.C., among a group of more than 200 cancer survivors, patients and volunteers who’re asking Congress to provide more money for cancer research. Joel Greer of Marshalltown says he volunteered for the mission because millions of Americans are affected by the disease, including members of his own family. Greer’s grandfather died of cancer when he was in his 40s; one of his uncles just died of cancer and two of his siblings have been married to cancer victims. Greer says their message to policymakers is “don’t forget us; people are dying out here.” That’s the same message Sandy Sunde of Estherville’s carried to Washington. Sunde says she’s hoping for the day when there’s a cure for cancer. Sunde says over 1.3 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, and 15,000 Iowans will learn they have cancer. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the U.S.