Sudbury Resident Receives Prestigious Cancer Advocacy Award

SUDBURY, MA—Sudbury’s Marisa Lutz was named the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) 2018-19 Denise Merrill Advocacy Fellow, the Network announced. Lutz has been a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and ACS CAN since 2009, dedicating her time to the Lincoln-Sudbury Relay for Life and serving as a vocal advocate for ongoing state and local public policy initiatives to eliminate cancer.

The award was established in 2002 in memory of Denise Merrill of Malden. Merrill, who succumbed to breast cancer in 2000, was a highly-committed advocacy volunteer who worked tirelessly on ACS CAN’s public policy efforts, continues the announcement. This Fellowship is awarded to a cancer survivor or advocate who embodies the spirit of Denise and is willing to work with the ACS CAN team for a one-year term as an advocate for federal, state or local cancer control legislation, and as a leading voice for cancer survivorship.

“Year after year, her commitment to fighting cancer continues to grow, and she continues to help extend the reach of our organization by recruiting family and friends to join the fight,” said Melissa Stacy, grassroots manager for ACS CAN in Massachusetts, in a statement. “This year, Marisa applied for and was accepted to be the ACS CAN volunteer lead for her district. Since May she has worked to build her team, forge a relationship with her Federal Representative and her state lawmakers, and encourages her team members to do the same. She leads by example and inspires everyone she meets.”

“I am humbled by this honor and grateful for the recognition. The work that Denise did as an advocate over 15 years ago laid the groundwork for some activities that ACS CAN engages in today. Her legacy inspires me to work harder and speak louder so that elected officials will make fighting cancer a national priority. I am excited to continue to advocate for public policy that supports cancer patients and their families,” said Lutz in a statement.

The award was presented to Lutz at the 26th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Boston walk. At the event, an estimated 25,000 walkers from Greater Boston raised funds and walked either a two-mile or six-mile route to fight the second leading cause of cancer death in women.

Photo submitted by Cancer Action Network to Patch