Los Angeles – Jamie Escoto, a Filipina American living in Los Angeles, officially assumed her role as State Lead Ambassador (SLA) during the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Ambassador Summit, held on February 6 at the LGBT Center in San Francisco.
“Jamie Escoto is a volunteer with exceptional dedication and commitment to advocating for policies that provide everyone a just and fair opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer. She consistently goes above and beyond to empower and mobilize fellow volunteers and her community. It is an honor to pass the baton to such a deserving leader,” said P. Kay Coleman, former California SLA.
Among Escoto’s duties as the top ACS CAN ambassador in the state are building a strong working relationship with California’s US Senators, helping set goals and priorities for volunteers across the state and being a visible statewide volunteer leader on all advocacy issues.
“Our legislators play a critical role in reducing the cancer burden for all Californians. This year, we are urging them to increase access to the Every Woman Counts program, which helps thousands of women get potentially lifesaving breast and cervical cancer screenings and any follow-up care,” said Escoto.
ACS CAN continually advocates for local, state, and federal policies that protect people from tobacco-related diseases, an issue very close to Escoto’s heart. Close to 17 percent of Filipino American men and over nine percent of Filipino American women smoke cigarettes, according to the National Health Interview Survey 2006-2018.
“I got addicted to smoking menthol and clove cigarettes when I was 16 years old. I smoked for over ten years,” she said. “And I lost my dad, papa Jimmy, to lung cancer. I find solace in being able to honor his legacy by working to reduce the suffering and death caused by cancer. He is my inspiration, and my kids are my engine.” Follow @forpapajimmy on TikTok to learn more about Escoto’s cancer advocacy work. For more information on how ACS CAN advocates for cancer patients, survivors and their families on the local, state and federal levels, visit: FightCancer.org/CA.
