Deb Violette, Maine Lung Cancer Alliance, hosted a candlelight vigil earlier this month on the Statehouse steps to honor those touched by lung cancer. Her work as an advocate to the lung cancer community is unsurpassed. She is not afraid to stand up and speak out against lung cancer.

What I did find appalling was that no one from our legislative body was present. Gov. John Baldacci could not take a moment to say a few words; instead, he sent a message to be read. There were no reporters and, with all the doctors at the Harold Alfond Cancer Center, only one volunteered to speak.

Dr. Deborah Morosini, the sister of the late Dana Reeves, traveled more than six hours to share a message of hope and support to those who attended.

Shame on our leaders, newspapers and media here in Maine to overlook the No. 1 cause of death from cancer in the United States.

As Violette mentioned in her speech, lung cancer carries with it a stigma and your absence from this event sends a very strong message to the lung cancer community. Other cancer groups, such as breast cancer, certainly gets enough attention.

It's time that lung cancer get the much-needed attention, support, compassion and research dollars so there are better treatment options and better than 15 percent survival rate.

Let's get with it and stand up and speak out, show support and compassion for this disease. No one deserves lung cancer.

Don Bolduc

Augusta