Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Wednesday, November 27, 2019 American Cancer Society, NFL and New England Patriots award $125K to CHA C AMBRIDGE – The American Cancer Society (ACS), National Football League (NFL) and the New England Patriots have awarded a grant to Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) to address lung cancer mortality by increasing screenings and supporting smoking cessation efforts. The grant funding was made possible through ACS’s partnership with the NFL and the league’s Crucial Catch campaign. On Thursday, November 21, the Patriots and ACS formally presented the grant at an event at CHA Everett Hospital with staff, providers and members of CHA’s Board of Trustees. The grants are the latest in ACS’s Community Health Advocates Implementing Nationwide Grants for Empowerment and Equity program, which provides funding opportunities as part of the ACS’s commitment to reduce cancer disparities. CHA, an academic community health system that provides care in Cambridge, Somerville, Malden, Chelsea, Revere and Everett, will receive $125,000 over a two-year period. The grant is one of eight being awarded nationwide, and this is the first time the Crucial Catch program has expanded to address lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States – responsible for about one in four deaths. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed Shown from left to right are American Cancer Society (ACS) Executive Vice President Kris Kim, ACS Board of Directors Member Dr. Mark Goldberg, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) Chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Dr. Alexander White, Patriots Foundation President Joshua Kraft and CHA Board of Trustees Chair Joshua Posner at an event awarding a $125,000 grant to CHA for lung cancer prevention. (Photo Courtesy of the Cambridge Health Alliance) in both men and women but takes more lives than any other. Each year more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. The ACS estimates there will be about 228,150 new lung cancer cases and 142,670 lung cancer deaths in the United States in 2019. “We are very excited to have been selected for this funding to help support the patients and communities served by CHA, where there is a significant burden of cancer,” said Dr. Alexander White, CHA’s chief of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. “Of these SOUNDS | from page 14 estate in the town. Guidelines are set by the Dept. of Revenue, Bureau of Local Assessment. Board of Health: They are responsible for protecting and serving the citizens in health areas, such as food sanitation, restaurants, markets and compliance with the state sanitary and other health codes as well as emergency preparedness. Medical degree or physicians preferred. Boats and Waterways Commission: The responsibilities of these positions are to provide a clear, effective and professional policy that will ensure the interests of commercial, fishing and recreational boating and that the waterways will be accessible to all citizens. One position requires that the person be a waterway-abutting homeowner with no commercial intercancers, lung has the highest mortality and the lowest rate of early/local stage diagnosis. This suggests that access to care and regular screening for lung cancer are not where they should be and that the barriers our patients face to accessing care need to be addressed. Thanks to ACS and the Patriots Foundation, we will be able to implement targeted programming and tools for shared decision-making around lung cancer screening in high-risk communities and enhance community outreach strategies.” Since 2009 the NFL’s Crucial Catch campaign has raised est in waterways or adjacent lands. One position requires that the person be a Saugus Town Meeting Member. Commission on Disabilities: The responsibilities of these positions are to answer questions and provide referral guidance regarding disabilityrelated issues in accordance with the Mass. General Laws. Conservation Commission: The Commission’s responsibility is to preserve the natural resources of Saumore than $20 million in support of ACS. Funding raised since 2012 has supported ACS’s Community Health Advocates implementing Nationwide Grants for Empowerment and Equity (CHANGE) program. This program promotes health equity and addresses cancer early detection disparities through community-based cancer-prevention programs that increase access to necessary cancer screenings. The program officially launched in 2012 within 17 communities across the country. Since 2012 the NFL has funded over 200 projects in safety-net, primary care systems within 100 miles of an NFL market to increase cancer awareness and access to potentially life-saving screenings. In 2017 the “Crucial Catch” program expanded to include colorectal cancer, cervical cancer and HPV vaccinations. Now in 2019, the NFL/ACS partnership has further expanded to help ACS address lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the U.S. To date, 1 million individuals have been reached with education, navigation and screening reminders. gus and to protect the remaining open spaces, wild life, salt marshes and ponds, and restore streams and the Saugus River to their natural state. Historical Commission: The Commission’s responsibility is to preserve and register all historical sites in Saugus. Planning Board: The Board’s responsibilities are to hear, review and vote on the applications proposed to the Town regarding subdivision plans, zoning special permits, rezoning issues and site plan review of permits. Youth and Recreation: The Commission was established for the purpose of carrying out programs, including but not limited to, those designed to meet the opportunities, challenges and problems of the youths of the town. If you are interested in volunteering and are a resident of the Town of Saugus please submit a letter of interest and resume by Friday, December 20, 2019, to: Saugus Town Manager; 298 Central Street, Suite 1; Saugus, MA 01906 or email Cmoreschi@ saugus-ma.gov. “Shout-outs” We didn’t get any this week. So, here are a few from the Editor’s desk. How about a shout-out for Eugene Decareau, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday with family and friends? Gene continues to remain active in civic and community affairs. He’s a longtime, active member of the Saugus Lions Club. He also continues to serve the town on the Retirement Board. Hats off SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 18
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