Relay Wisdom: COVID-19 Pandemic Updates

The American Cancer Society is closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak. Please know the American Cancer Society is taking this issue very seriously and there is no higher priority than the safety of our patients, volunteers, event participants and staff. We understand this situation is rapidly changing and will continue to make informed decisions and keep you updated when possible. See the latest ACS updates at: https://bit.ly/39Y59kW, read a letter from the ACS Chief Executive Officer, and see a video from the ACS Board of Directors Chair.
#StillAttackingCancer

Cancer hasn't stopped, and neither has the American Cancer Society. The COVID-19 pandemic is especially scary for cancer patients, and we are here - at 1.800.227.2345 and cancer.org - 24/7, 365 days a year. 80% of the calls to our 1.800 number in the past few months have been related to the pandemic.

ACS LOCATIONS, PROGRAMS, RESEARCH, AND STAFFING UPDATE: There is a significant risk associated with the work the American Cancer Society does with immunosuppressed patients.
• Based on information from the CDC guidelines along with local Health Departments most ACS office will be temporarily closed the public. Limited offices have been permanently closed for the ACS "Fit For A Purpose" needs. American Cancer Society staff (including your Relay Staff Partners) will continue to move our mission forward with remote work. Meetings and outreach will continue virtually. (Contact your Relay Staff Partner for more information.)

• Hope Lodges: ACS has suspended the Hope Lodge program effective March 27, 2020 until further notice (learn more, learn how Hope Lodges are currently being used to house health care workers, and see the October 2020 update).
• Road To Recovery: ACS has suspended all transportation (volunteer and paid) effective March 25, 2020 until further notice (learn more).
• COVID-19 has halted work of half of ACS grantees doing cancer research.
• Most ACS office staff and Discovery Shop staff were furloughed in March (many Discovery Shop employees have already returned to work). Since then, the highest level ACS staff have taken pay cuts and they have started the "Fit For A Purpose" needs of laying-off staff due to low fundraising levels (over 1,000 layoffs have already occurred). Contact your Relay Staff Partner for more information.

• Pandemic anxiety impacting clinical trials.

EVENT UPDATE:

• The American Cancer Society asks each event to work with your ACS staff partner about the best way to run your events and meetings virtual or in person following local and national social distancing standards. See the Event Contingency Planning Guide, additional communication guidance on the ACS Brand Toolkit, Virtual Relay Resources, and the ACS Campus Resource Page.

• With the changes in funding the American Cancer has received in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic ACS has started the "Fit For A Purpose" of evaluating each Relay event to see how it can most effectively work; this includes events merging, becoming DIY events, having remote staff partners, and exiting. Contact your Relay Staff Partner for more information.

FUNDRAISING UPDATE: Fundraising isn’t all the American Cancer Society does, but everything the American Cancer Society does depends on funds raised. The American Cancer Society has suspended all normal in-person events, including fundraisers, through the end of the year. Volunteers are encouraged to “think outside of the box” and continue their online, socially distanced, and remote fundraising efforts. Cancer survivors continue to need the American Cancer Society’s support and services; and the American Cancer Society continues to need volunteers and fundraisers. Relayers are encouraged to join the online think tank to share online and virtual fundraising ideas. Also feel free to use the online fundraising resources, fundraising rally, and virtual fundraising A-Z for ideas as well as promoting Facebook fundraising, Virtual Fundraising, Fundraising Rally, the FUNdraising app, and Amazon Smile. #StillAttackingCancer

ACS started a marketing campaign featuring messaging focused on cancer and COVID-19. Kicking-off with digital ads and social media, the "Cancer Hasn't Stopped" campaign is a multi-faceted fundraiser to communicate our commitment to the fight against cancer and ask the public to support cancer patients and survivors during this crisis.

ACS is so grateful for the passion and dedication of their volunteers, and they need you now more than every to help minimize the impact on their 2020 revenue. They are welcoming your ideas for creative fundraising ideas; please email them at ACSevetsoluntions@cancer.org.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:
• Take the #LaptopLipSync challenge
• Encourage the games in your life to participate in the Games vs Cancer College Streaming Tournament (all welcome)
• Host a Fundraising Rally
• Host and attend a Virtual Relay
• Sent your virtual fundraising ideas to ACSeventsolutions@cancer.org.

ACS ONLINE RESOURCES:

• People who have cancer or who are getting cancer treatment often have a higher risk of getting an infection, and infections can be more serious that in people who don't have cancer. It's important for patients and caregivers to know the signs of an infection and when to get help. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/2vxLBFa

• What cancer patients and caregivers need to know about COVID-19? Len Litchtenfeld, MD, MACP, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the American Cancer Society answers this questions and provides important guidance and perspective at https://bit.ly/2w7kcKF

• ACS has launched a new free online COVID-19 and Cancer ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) series for caregivers. The series is aimed to share current information about how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting cancer patience and high-risk individuals, sharing strategies, and answering questions. The series will be held 11am-12noon on Wednesdays (August 19 - September 16, 2020). Summaries are available for the specific topics to be covered. Participation is not required in all three sessions, though pre-registration is required.

• Cancer patients and survivors are finding it increasingly challenging to get necessary health care as the COVID-19 pandemic persists. Learn more about the delays in care, financial strain, and negative mental health effects at MySocietySource.

• While the news about this outbreak is changing daily, even hourly, knowing some basic facts about what can and cannot be done to prevent getting sick can be very empowering. More information on COVID-19 can be found here: http://bit.ly/2W9P4oq
• Relay Event Leads and members of the Cour-Four are encouraged to view the Event Contingency Planning Guide and additional communication guidance from ACS Brand Toolkit.

• Coronavirus health care delays and anxiety persist for cancer patients and survivors more than 6-months into the pandemic.

• Medicaid Covers Us: Medicaid and COID-19 through the Health Equity Lens virtual event replay

• Handling a serious illness through the holidays during the COVID-19 pandemic

• COVID-19 Vaccines in People with Cancer