Having your voice heard on the topic of health care has never been more important. That's why the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network is hosting Lobby Day, March 4 at the Colorado State Capitol.

This year, state lawmakers are deciding on crucial bills that can affect the way cancer is handled in our state. One issue on the minds of many is House Bill 09-1164. It deals with the Colorado "Committed to a Cure" license plates. Currently, no money collected from the vanity plates goes to help in the fight against cancer. If the bill is passed, future money raised from the license plates will help cancer survivors statewide.

One volunteer you're sure to see at the Lobby Day is Melissa Windholz. "I'm no stranger to cancer," says 42-year-old Windholz. "I lost my father-in-law to colon cancer, and I'm a two time breast cancer survivor myself."

Windholz's passion for cancer education, advocacy and awareness began when she first discovered she had cancer at the age of 26. "I found the lump while I was pregnant," Windholz says. "I tried to convince my doctors that it needed to be checked but they insisted the lump was a result of my pregnancy."

Demanding the doctors look at the lump in her breast, she was shocked to discover her cancer was a stage 3 mass. After giving birth, Windholz underwent several bouts of chemotherapy and more than a month of daily radiation treatments but says, "with the help of friends and family, I beat it and moved on."

But, the fight wasn't over for Windholz. When the cancer returned, Melissa was determined to beat it, again. Melissa underwent several surgeries, a mastectomy and again, more chemotherapy. "I was getting some of the worst chemo out there, but thankfully I had my friends and family right there with me again," Windholz says.

Her personal struggles with the disease along with her father-in-law's own battle is what brought Windholz to volunteer for the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network. Next week, Windholz will have the opportunity to share her story with state lawmakers, and ask them to support House Bill 09-1164 and other important issues, and she urges you to do the same.

For more information about the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network, or to learn more about Colorado Lobby Day, please contact Carlos Estrada by phone, 720-524-5409 or by email, carlos.estrada@cancer.org or by the website at www.acscan.org/colorado.