Pollex Headed To Capitol Hill

Sherry Pollex and Martin Truex, Jr.

Sherry Pollex, a longtime champion of pediatric cancer fundraising through the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation, is taking on another cancer-related mission. 

Pollex, who was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer 11 months ago, will be on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Wednesday on behalf of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. She will meet with Senators and Members of the House of Representatives to discuss ovarian cancer funding and advocate for policies ensuring that cancer patients have access to cancer therapy at affordable out-of-pocket costs. 

Pollex will advocate for full federal funding of ovarian cancer research and education programs at the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pollex will also advocate on behalf of a bill called The Cancer Treatment Parity Act that ensures women to have access to affordable oral chemotherapy treatments. Unlike traditional intravenous drugs, oral chemotherapy treatments  are not always covered by insurance companies, and many patients are responsible for extremely high and unmanageable co-pays. 

"I am both excited and honored to have been asked to partner with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance and go to Washington to meet with legislators to discuss the much needed additional funding for ovarian cancer," said Pollex. "We will also be there to advocate for policies that ensure women have access to the newest personalized treatments for cancer. There are new drugs available for ovarian cancer but for many women they are not affordable even with insurance coverage. We need to change that, and make sure that everyone has access to the breakthrough treatments to fight this disease."   

Pollex, who is the girlfriend of NASCAR star driver Martin Truex Jr. of the Furniture Row Racing team, will be accompanied to Capitol Hill by three members of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance team -- Calaneet Balas (CEO), Jeremy Scott (Policy Counsel) and Lisa Mauti (Vice President of Cause Marketing). 

“Having the voice of a survivor and a well-known public figure helps to advance ovarian cancer on the federal policy agenda and bring a face to this devastating disease," said Balas. "Sherry is a wonderful advocate for ovarian cancer and we’re excited that she could join us for a day of advocacy for ovarian cancer.