Cancer Express Bus To Make OC Stop

OCEAN CITY - The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) 2008 Fight Back Express, a nationwide bus tour awareness effort, will be stopping in Ocean City this June, as the bus makes its three-day tour through Maryland.

Local American Cancer Society volunteer Dawne Pappas came before the Mayor and Council this week to request permission to park the Fight Back Express bus at North Division Street, on June 3, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Fight Back Express bus will be traveling across the country from May 4 through Election Day, Nov. 4, in an effort to build the movement to make cancer issues a national priority.

According to the ACS-CAN, 'the Fight Back Express will serve as a mobile action center that will bring the stories of cancer patients, survivors and friends to candidates and elected officials on all levels of government to make cancer a priority in our country.'

The Fight Back Express bus will be traveling through Maryland from June 3 through June 6, stopping at the American Cancer Society Office in White Marsh, the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Baltimore, the American Cancer Society Relay For Life Event in Allegany County and various other medical centers and public places.

The Fight Back Express bus was not originally scheduled to stop in Ocean City on its three-day tour through Maryland, but thanks to the efforts of the local American Cancer Society and the work of Pappas, the bus will be making a brief stop in Ocean City to promote awareness in the resort town.

Pappas explained that the Fight Back Express would be first traveling to Greene Turtle North, followed by a one-hour stop at North Division Street for a photo-op underneath the Ocean City welcome arch.

The City Council unanimously approved the request to allow the bus to park at North Division Street.

'As usual, Ocean City is on the forefront of being the generous community that it is,' said Council member Nancy Howard.