Bill Couzens, Founder of 'Next Generation Choices Foundation' and the 'Less Cancer Campaign' was recently in the nation's capitol with Erica Wiley to applaud the creation of the 'National Cancer Prevention Day' resolution.

'The resolution here in the Capitol and in individual states is all about reminding and educating lawmakers as well as other community leaders and individuals that when we make choices -when we vote, we do so with "Less Cancer" policies in mind.

"This is really the one day that is NOT attached to big money- this is the one day that does not corporate or cancer marketing and does not involve corporations that either produce risk increasing products or are in the cancer treatment industry." Couzens spoke movingly at a briefing for the National Cancer Prevention Day Resolution introduced by Congressman Steve Israel with 19 Co-Sponsors in the US Capitol Building.

Since that time the story has gone viral around the globe with raised activity in the social networks including a Tweet from Representative Israel " Proud to partner today with @LessCancer and introduce Resolution for Natl Cancer Prevention Day"

Earlier Israel had said, "There are far too many who have been touched by cancer, both directly or indirectly. Today, on National Cancer Prevention Day, we commit ourselves to prevention and reducing our risks as much as possible through healthy lifestyles and clean environments. Less Cancer has been a true partner in this fight, and I applaud them for that."

Erica Wiley's Speech

"We live in a great nation where the best medical care is available in the world. Unfortunately none of our medical advances could save my beautiful son, Hugh. My family and I used every method at our disposal – the right specialists, the best treatments, state-of-the art research and technology in the United States and in Europe -and it was just not enough.

And, yes, while this is sad, the sad thing is that Hugh is not the only child who our nation has lost to Cancer. Upon returning for round after round of chemotherapy to the always-too-full pediatric oncology units, we would often learn that other children, some of whom were infants, were no longer with us."

"You see… if two-thirds of Cancers result from the environment and children are more susceptible to environmental contaminants than adults, then what is going to occur? As exposures increase, incidences of Cancer in children will increase.

"This unfortunate trend over the past 20 years is reflected in our nation's childhood Cancer statistics. And these childhood statistics understate incidences of Cancer as they omit incidences of cancers after the age of 15, omit tumors classified as 'non-cancerous' and omit adult cancers resulting from childhood exposure."

"I am here today to ask each of you to "Please, let us choose that different picture of children, the one with Less Cancer…let us make the choices to reduce risk in our food, our water, our air, our environment.

"I am very encouraged to see that we are making choices today to take a critical step toward awareness about reducing risk, supporting healthy choices and encouraging Cancer Prevention.

My heartfelt thanks and congratulations to the honorable Congressman Israel for having the vision and courage to sponsor this resolution for Cancer Prevention Day and to the honorable Congressmen and women who also supported it.

"I am also grateful to Less Cancer and to Bill Couzens for all the work that occurs to raise awareness that Cancer does not have to the new norm; and that, by making choices to reduce risk and not accept the status quo, there can be Less Cancer.

Bill, I know that this work is hard and, often, hard on your family; but I believe that the work you do will, indeed, result in Less Cancer…so, please, don't ever stop."

Suzi Tobias

Suzi Tobias from Texas also spoke, saying:

"We cannot simply treat cancer. To invest all of our resources in treatment without prevention is a flawed approach—it's defensive and reactive.

"If we want Less cancer, we need an approach that is offensive and proactive.

"According to the National Institute of Health: as many as two-thirds of all cancer cases are linked to environmental causes, and most of these are potentially preventable through lifestyle choices and practicing risk reduction.

"This essentially means that we have the opportunity to reduce or eradicate up to two-thirds of all cancer. Imagine, two-thirds Less Cancer.

"How would we achieve such a goal?

"RAISING AWARENESS of the concept of cancer prevention. We cannot stand by passively and wait for cancer to happen.

"We can EDUCATE and empower people on risk reduction strategies and offer them the tools necessary to make healthy lifestyle choices.

"We can work to ENACT POLICIES that keep human health and cancer risk reduction in the forefront—for example, Congressman Israel's excellent Cleaning Product Right-to-Know act.

"This was a critical piece of legislation that would have required the manufacturers of household chemicals to disclose all ingredients on the label. It would have enabled consumers to make informed decisions about chemical exposure—a vital piece of the prevention puzzle.

"We can work to find a way for business and industry to ally their products and practices with the needs and health of people without intruding on their ability to succeed. We must find the balance between a healthy economy and our nation's health."

Thank You Middleburg

Recently, Couzens said in a telephone conversation with Editor Dee Dee Hubbard-

"I am so grateful to the many Middleburg friends who were so patient with my emails asking for help.. at a time when people did not understand the culture of "Less."

"For me at the time, there was nothing being done in the area of prevention it was all early diagnosis -not prevention.

"Now, 10 years later, the mission for Less Cancer has far expanded our main street community and the work has been about many not just here locally.

"Today, lots and lots of people make the Less Cancer Mission happen. We see that also in individual States like here in Virginia where Jill Vogel Introduced the resolution for Cancer Prevention Day or in Michigan where State Senator Bert Johnson Introduced the resolution for Cancer Prevention Day and New Hampshire where State Representative, Tom Sherman and State Senator Nancy Stiles worked with Governor Maggie Hassan for Cancer Prevention Day."