On June 29, lead cancer advocates, researchers and care providers in Billings, Bozeman and Kalispell, Montana, will join communities across the country in giving a local voice to national cancer policy development by hosting local Cancer Moonshot Summits. The Summits are occurring in support of, and in concert with, Vice President Joe Biden’s National Cancer Moonshot Initiative, which was established to accelerate the pace of progress in cancer research, prevention, treatment, and care.
The local summits come on the heels of the release of the Montana 2016-2021 Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan, which was unveiled during a statewide meeting May 24. Summits will feature a live watch party of Vice President Biden’s remarks, examine Montana state priorities as identified in the five-year plan, and discuss the state- and community-specific resource needs, systems and policy changes needed to reduce the burden of cancer in Montana. Reports from the events will be shared with the White House and Governor and used to inform future state and national policies.
The following organizations are collaborating to hold local Cancer Moonshot Initiative summits on June 29 to help give Montana a voice in national policies to address cancer: The American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Cancer Support Community, Montana Cancer Coalition and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.