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Richard Lawrence of Holmen recalls the horrors he went through in August 2005 when he was diagnosed with liver cancer and essentially given a death sentence by his doctors, who declined to even consider chemotherapy or radiation because of the rapid growth and spread of his tumors.

Refusing to give up, he looked into alternative medicines and eventually went to Mexico, where he received a nutritional vitamin intravenous treatment regime that attacked his cancer cells without breaking down his immune system. He’s been in remission ever since.

“If it wasn’t for a benefit put on by a bunch of my family and friends, I would not have been able to afford my upfront costs of over $26,000, none of which was covered by my insurance,” said Lawrence, who is now 68 years old and has been given a clean bill of health. “I would like to see our health insurance companies offer opportunities for people to check into all avenues of health care treatment, and then fund them. Our health care in America is driven by profits, but it should be driven by what’s best for patients.”

AARP has launched an initiative called “Divided We Fail” to amplify the voices of millions of Americans like Richard Lawrence who believe health and financial security are the most pressing domestic issues facing our nation today.

AARP wants to know what La Crosse area citizens, legislators, health care experts and local opinion leaders think about health care. AARP Wisconsin is inviting area residents to attend a free town hall community conversation from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, June 5, at the City Brewery Hospitality Center, 1111 S. Third Street in La Crosse.

This effort will compel state and national leaders to take action and develop common-sense, bipartisan solutions to ensure that all Americans can count on a lifetime of health and financial security.

We’ve named our campaign Divided We Fail because if we don’t work together to do something about Americans’ health and long-term financial security, then we will fail. We’ll fail ourselves and future generations as well. And that can’t happen.

Health care costs are out of control for both individuals and employers. One in four Americans has problems paying medical bills and one in three says they have skipped treatment, tests or prescriptions because of costs. Forty-six million Americans are uninsured and middle class families are the fastest growing segment.

Financial security is just as tenuous for too many Americans. National saving is at an all-time low and pension plans are dwindling. Half of all private sector workers are not signed up for a 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan. For many people, Social Security will be their only reliable, guaranteed retirement income source. But Social Security alone isn’t enough.

If we don’t act, and soon, the next generation will be the first in American history to be less well off than their parents. We can’t let that happen and we won’t.

Getting there is going to take the concerted efforts of every sector — health, business, government — and individuals, too. AARP will be engaging our members and the public to press for change. We’ll put pressure on candidates to make health and financial security the top domestic issues in 2008. We’ve joined forces with business and labor and will add in a broad spectrum of other groups to see this through.

We are asking the American people to share their thoughts, experiences and ideas and to sign our pledge regarding health and financial security on our Web site, www.dividedwefail.org. We need your help to succeed. Please join us. Divided we fail, together we can do anything.

Note: AARP Wisconsin will be hosting several events in La Crosse June 5-7 in an effort to raise awareness and engage citizens in the health care and financial security debate. For a schedule of La Crosse events, visit www.aarp.org/wi

D’Anna Bowman is state director of AARP Wisconsin