Dr. Peter Bridgman, a retired neurologist living with cancer, is actively campaigning to restore funding for cancer research at federal agencies. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2013, Bridgman, 72, is determined to raise awareness about the potential impacts of significant budget cuts facing the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Bridgman has experienced the benefits of available treatments, crediting them for his current health. However, he expresses deep concern regarding future research capabilities, particularly in light of a staggering 37 percent cut to the NCI’s budget. “NIH and the NCI expected small cuts like five or ten percent, but they were completely floored by the 37 percent cut to the NCI,” he stated. “Active research is going on and that might be curtailed. So by the time I need it, it may not be there for me.”
In response to this critical situation, Bridgman has begun a grassroots campaign in his community of Yarmouth. He is going door-to-door, encouraging residents to sign an online petition aimed at restoring funding levels for cancer research agencies. Bridgman emphasizes the importance of adequate funding, arguing, “In order to save lives, we have to restore funding to close to what it was before. If we let the funding bounce up and down, researchers will go to other countries. They’ll go to the European Union. They’ll go to China, and we’ll lose all of that.”
The urgency of his mission resonates with neighbors, including John Auble, who expressed support by signing the petition. “Overall, I think cancer is underfunded. So every time we have somebody who is willing to put in the time that he does, it’s really touching,” Auble remarked. “We need more Peters.”
Bridgman’s efforts are set to culminate on December 2, 2023, when he and representatives from the American Cancer Society plan to hand-deliver the collected petition signatures to the office of U.S. Senator Susan Collins in Portland. They aim to advocate for the restoration of funding when Congress reconvenes.
For those interested in participating in the campaign, more information is available at fightcancer.org. Bridgman’s dedication highlights the critical need to maintain robust funding for cancer research, vital for developing future treatment options that could benefit many patients like himself.
