| Flint -- Like many cancer survivors, Karen Scruggs endured multiple rounds of radiation and chemotherapy to overcome breast cancer.
Unlike many, Scruggs is willing to talk about her experience and urge others, especially those in the minority community, to get tested for all types of cancers and to support research.
"My fight is personal for me, but someone has to carry the torch, someone has to carry the fight," said Scruggs, a 49-year-old assembler at General Motors' Flint Truck Assembly Plant.
"I want the community to know if you're diagnosed early, you have a better chance to live."
Next week, Scruggs is taking her message to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. as one of the American Cancer Society's Relay Community Ambassadors. Scruggs among more than 3,000 hoping to lobby Congress during the Wednesday and Thursday event for more funding for cancer research.
Scruggs, who speaks about her experiences at schools and churches, also is attending the cancer society's Clio Relay for Life, which starts today at Clio City Park. The event -- designed to raise money, honor survivors and pay tribute to cancer victims -- includes a survivor's walk and an after sundown candle-lit ceremony.
"It's very emotional,"said Scruggs, a Flint resident who has met and lost several friends from her cancer support group since she was diagnosed in December 1999.
"You celebrate your life, but then you honor all (who have died). You're happy for yourself and you're sad for those who didn't make it."
In Washington, Scruggs said, she plans to lobby for more funding for programs that could help women without insurance and minority groups, which generally have higher cancer rates, she said.
The group already has one ally, U.S. Rep. Dale E. Kildee, D-Flint, who said he backs what the National Cancer Institute and the cancer society's goal for cancer research for the 2003 fiscal year -- $5.69 billion for research, a 35 percent increase.
The society also is pushing for a 17 percent increase for the National Institute of Health to $27.3 billion and $199.6 million in funding for the NIH's Center on Minority Health & Health Disparities, in which Scruggs is especially interested.
"This is very timely," Kildee said of the upcoming event.
"We're really making the decisions. They're coming here at the right time for the right issues."
Kildee, who met Scruggs during a meeting with a cancer support group in Flint this summer, said he was inspired by the group's personal stories about fighting the disease that will kill an estimated 550,000 people this year.
"I left there feeling much more committed, more resolved to do more,"Kildee said.
Becky Lantry, area executive director of the American Cancer Society's East Michigan chapter, said Scruggs is one of about 200 Relay Community Ambassadors selected from Michigan and Indiana and the only one from the area. Two others from the chapter are from St. Clair County.
"Karen has been very instrumental in helping us do minority outreach in Genesee County," Langtry said.
"She's very passionate on getting more money earmarked for research. She's always had an interest in the political arena.
"Wherever we need her, all we have to do is pick up the phone and she's there."
--Christofer Machniak | 
