Establishing Personal Contact
Establish personal contact with the research advocates who are participating in your activity. This will foster an open dialogue, promote understanding, and maximize the value of advocate participation.
Please keep in mind that some advocates have already participated in activities similar to yours and others may be new to your type of activity. It may also be either the first time any advocate has been involved in a particular program or project, or may be the first time that you have directly involved an advocate in your work.
For advocates new to an activity, please keep in mind that it can be both exciting and intimidating to be involved in a national activity and participate with prominent scientists on the cutting edge of cancer or other research. You will find, however, that research advocates are very dedicated to "giving back", and are willing to put effort into making a contribution to your activity.
Their knowledge will most often be in other fields, yet because of their cancer-related experiences, they also may have developed considerable knowledge about basic and applied science issues. Their role as a research advocate is to represent the collective viewpoint of those who have been affected by cancer, particularly in the focus area of your activity. It is not their role to be another scientist on the team. However, their own knowledge will help provide a foundation for their making a meaningful contribution.
Calling the advocates who are participating in your activity will provide an important forum for
- Learning more about their background and knowledge of cancer issues
- Addressing questions
- Identifying any special needs that they may have
If you think the advocate may need additional assistance, you can contact us to request an advocate mentor. Mentors are other advocates that do not need to be traveled to your activity, but can provide valuable insights and support to the participating advocate, either by phone or email.
