Two Utah County mayors are urging residents to get out their yellow wristbands.

"In our community, we need to be aware that this is an issue," Billings told the council and audience. "My mother seven years ago perished as the result of a bout of cancer. It is an important message."

Billings's story is not unique in Utah County: 334 people died of cancer here in 2007, according to the county health department. That accounted for about 17 percent of all deaths in Utah County last year, making it the second-leading cause of death, behind heart disease.

Vicky Fletcher is all too familiar with the threat of cancer. Having watched several people in her family -- including her father and grandfather -- suffer through the disease, Fletcher decided about a year ago to take a more active role in the fight. When the Lance Armstrong Foundation started looking for people to lead local chapters, she volunteered.

"I said, 'I don't want to stick my head in the sand anymore,'" she said. "It needs to be a national priority. People need to sit up and take notice."

As the leader of the foundation's local "army," Fletcher organizes fundraisers and shares educational material about cancer prevention and care. She does it, she said, because community support is crucial in formulating an approach that works.

"We need to be willing to invest personal time and resources to come up with solutions to treat and end the disease," she said. "Cancer is a devastating disease. We need to make a difference in our community."

Both mayors agreed to make the day official after talking with Fletcher about the problem and what can be done to fix it.

"We hope the proclamation provides some encouragement and support to the individuals and families in our city who are courageously battling cancer," Billings said. Washburn was not available for comment on Monday.

A big part of the problem, Fletcher said, is the lack of health insurance and proper care. Of the roughly 600,000 people who die of cancer each year in the U.S., 200,000 are uninsured or don't receive enough help, she said.

"We need to put more into making sure that everyone is covered, not just those who can fly around the world and be treated," she said.

Fletcher and company will set up tables with information in front of the Orem Wal-Mart on University Parkway from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. In addition to handing out goodies like sunscreen and wristbands, the group is hosting a "Cookies for the Cure" event. All proceeds from baked goods purchases will go directly to fund cancer care and research, Fletcher said.