Font Resize"In the case of my mother, my mother was probably my best friend as a kid," Gutierrez said. "And it was very, very difficult at a young age, I was only 25 when she passed away. It was a big loss and a big hurt. And she'd been a smoker all of her life."
To channel all those gaping emotions Gutierrez became an American cancer society advocate. "That really kind of helped me focus. What I wanted to do to try to help."
ACS advocates work to help pass local, state, and national laws they feel will help bring cancer rates down. Examples include the so-called "Clean Air Act," making smoking in all public facilities, including bars, illegal. Gutierrez says, "It was somewhere near 73% said no we like our clean indoor air, and we're going to keep it."
Cancer Society advocates also successfully raised cigarette taxes. They say that has lowered adult cancer rates. In addition, they were able to get insurance companies to cover breast, cervical, and colon cancer screenings. Gutierrez says, "With advocacy and the American Cancer Society there really is a very easy way for people to participate."
Participating, not only to heal his pain, but to encourage all Alaskans to join
"I am an advocate because I doubt there's anybody in this community whose life hasn't been touched by cancer in one way or another."
ACS advocates also work to raise money for research and education. Speaking of education, that is another advocacy area. After all information is the first thing someone wants when they or someone they love is diagnosed with cancer.
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