Dear Friends,

There’s a beast that lives amongst us, stealing our quality of life, stealing our dreams, stealing our futures. It may shock you to learn that almost 18 million people in the U.S. have cancer at any given time. Does that scare you? Because it does me.

Naysayers may say this dragon can’t be tamed, but you have the strength and fortitude to jump in the fray. Man, I can’t tell you how people fighting cancer need that support. But even more than being an ally, you are the magic that allows Western States Cancer Research NCORP to offer clinical trials to cancer patients in their own communities.

Can you believe that only 3-5% of cancer patients enroll in clinical research trials? We can sense you shaking your head in disbelief that over 17 million people don’t have a full arsenal to win their battles. It might make you a little sad to hear the reasons for this:

• • • Our society is full of clinical trial misinformation, especially because of healthcare inequity in racially diverse and/or remote communities
    • Poor dissemination of information including active studies available and benefits to racially diverse participants
    • General health inequities related to underserved and rural communities

So, we’ve thrown the gauntlet, and you’re our ride or die. Maybe you’ve heard this quote from Noela N. Evans,

“Challenge is a dragon with a gift in its mouth.
Tame the dragon and the gift is yours.”

As it turns out, you are our gift. Together we will tame the dragon so that every cancer patient can ring the bell of victory.

Say, “Yes, I will tame the dragon!” by making a donation to Western States Cancer Research NCORP on December 5th for Colorado Gives Day. Your support will be matched up to $1000, which means more help for more people.