Advocacy Volunteers
The Breast Cancer Fund is building a nationwide network of advocates dedicated to protecting our environment and our health. Your voice counts, whether you’re writing a letter to the editor of your local paper or testifying at a legislative hearing. We provide the tools and staffing to channel your passion for breast cancer prevention.
We envision a world in which fewer women and men face the diagnosis of breast cancer in themselves or a loved one. We envision a world in which the toxic chemicals linked to breast cancer have been eliminated from use. You can help us make this vision a reality as an advocacy volunteer.
With tools and training from the Breast Cancer Fund, we call on our advocacy volunteers across the U.S. to serve as leaders in our public outreach, media, legislative and fundraising efforts. Here are some ways you can get involved:
Sign Up for a Training
The Breast Cancer Fund provides virtual and occasional in-person training to new advocacy volunteers about the science linking breast cancer to environmental factors, as well as our public policy efforts and campaigns. This is a great opportunity to learn more about who we are, who we are not and how you can engage in our work.
Table at an Event
Concern about the environment is at an all-time high. You can tap into this interest by tabling at pre-existing events in your community, or you can create your own event through a local school, hospital, club or professional group you belong to.
Our staff will work with you to ensure you have talking points and other collateral and materials for your event. We are happy to ship them in advance of your event, provided you give us at least six weeks prior to your event date. In addition, throughout the year we have many conferences and events nationwide where the Breast Cancer Fund has a presence and need volunteers to help staff a table or assist staff.
By sharing your knowledge about the links between environment and health, you'll help us educate people about making safer choices for their own health and grow the environmental health movement.
Share Your Story with the Media
Print, television and radio media serve as excellent tools for sharing the message about breast cancer prevention and the environment. You can share your personal story to illustrate the links between the environment and cancer or, if you are planning event, you can use the media to spread the word, draw people to your event and share the message that we have the power to create a safer environment for our health.
As an advocate, we will send you opportunities to participate in media outreach, which might mean writing a letter to the editor, opinion piece or blog in support of legislative initiatives, or sharing your personal story with a reporter to support breast cancer prevention. As you begin your journey with the Breast Cancer Fund, we want to make sure that you're comfortable talking about our work in a way that is empowering for you and inspiring to others. Our Communications team will be available to support your media outreach efforts.
Advocate for Policy Change
The Breast Cancer Fund supports legislative efforts that call for a more prudent use of chemicals in our everyday lives. The voices and experiences of breast cancer survivors and citizens invested in preventing breast cancer can help create policies that protect our health. Your role in this process might include meeting with your elected officials, testifying at a hearing or submitting written comments. Never underestimate the power, persuasion and influence your voice has over these key decision-makers! You bring a human element that spurs them to act in favor of our initiatives.
Tips for Meeting with Legislators
If you have questions about advocacy volunteering, contact Program Coordinator Melissa Moore at mmoore@breastcancerfund.org or (415) 346-8223 x31.
