Resolution No. 35
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT: Health & Safety
Re: Support of Cancer Research – Substitute Adopted
1 | WHEREAS, cancer is recognized as one of the |
2 | deadliest diseases known to mankind; and |
3 | WHEREAS, cancer does not discriminate, but |
4 | affects people from all walks of life regardless of |
5 | age, gender, or health; and |
6 | WHEREAS, fire fighters face the risk |
7 | of contracting certain types of cancer with occurrence |
8 | rates being two to four times greater than the general |
9 | population, as per a number of bona fide medical |
10 | studies; and |
11 | WHEREAS, experts from the National Institute of |
12 | Health, the National Cancer Institute and other |
13 | prominent organizations have repeatedly stated that |
14 | cancer diagnoses are expected to significantly |
15 | increase as our longevity increases and that advances |
16 | in cancer treatment, early detection and an eventual |
17 | cure will only come through cancer prevention and |
18 | research; and |
19 | WHEREAS, government funding for cancer |
20 | research has been drastically reduced in recent years; |
21 | and |
22 | WHEREAS, fire fighters both active and retired |
23 | are being diagnosed and succumbing to certain types |
24 | of cancers at alarming rates; and |
25 | WHEREAS, The International Association of Fire |
26 | Fighters has recognized and made public that |
27 | “Cancer is the number one killer of fire fighters in |
28 | the fire service”; and |
29 | WHEREAS, fire fighters have a long and |
30 | distinguished history of not only taking care of our |
31 | own but also taking care of others; and |
32 | WHEREAS, only one organization The Retired |
33 | Professional Fire Fighters Cancer Fund, Inc. a non |
34 | profit 501(c)3 organization founded by both active |
35 | and retired IAFF members, none of which receive |
36 | any salary or stipend but provide in kind service, has |
37 | raised and donated over $100,000 since 2010 |
38 | to world renowned cancer research programs across |
39 | North America. However, in order to make a greater |
40 | impact much more needs to be done; and |
41 | WHEREAS, there are organizations affiliated |
42 | with fire fighters who offer educational programs, |
43 | advocacy programs and personal support programs |
44 | for fire fighters diagnosed with cancer but do not |
45 | provide funding for cancer research; and |
46 | WHEREAS, a per capita increase of three cents |
47 | per member per month equates to 36 cents per year |
48 | (less than the cost of a first class postage stamp in |
49 | both the United States and Canada) will generate |
50 | approximately $90,000 per year for promising |
51 | cancer research, without significant financial burden |
52 | to the IAFF or its members; therefore be it |
53 | RESOLVED, That The International Association |
54 | of Fire Fighters increase their per capita dues by 3 |
55 | cents per month with ALL funds going directly to |
56 | established cancer research programs and not a third |
57 | party charity. Research programs selected will focus |
58 | on those cancers where there is documented evidence |
59 | that fire fighters have higher occurrence rates when |
60 | compared to the general population. Where and when |
61 | possible that said funds be given to established |
62 | cancer research programs in North America, and be |
63 | it further |
64 | RESOLVED, That the IAFF Executive Board will |
65 | be the sole deciding organization in determining |
66 | where 100% of these funds are allocated for cancer |
67 | research programs; and be it further |
68 | RESOLVED, That The Retired Professional Fire |
69 | Fighters Cancer Fund remains available to assist the |
70 | Executive Board as needed. |
Submitted by: Local 729, Binghamton, NY
Cost Estimate: 3 cents
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