While the president holds town hall meetings to promote his health care plan Wednesday in Virginia and North Carolina, a group in Colorado Springs had a rally to fight it.

Organizers say about 1,200 people showed up to Acacia Park in downtown Colorado Springs Wednesday afternoon. They say they agree that health care needs a change, but they are protesting what they call government-run health care.

“We need change, but to radically change is very bad,” says Jeff Crank. He’s the state director for Americans for Prosperity, a grass roots organization that organized the rally. Their message: “Hands off my health care”.

“The tumor in my liver was active again and I wasn't waiting for a bureaucrat to make a decision," said Dale Auer. He has cancer and says his risky surgery, that saved his life, would've been denied under the president's proposed plan.

Another rally goer, Jeremiah Neace, says he's worried about his daughter's future health care with her rare blood disorder that requires daily shots. "The shots are astronomical. According to President Obama's plan, it’s not a cost worth spending."

Those on the other side say protestors are making this about politics. "I think the Republicans made a partisan issue. They see this as voting on Obama, rather than voting on health care. What good does that do for our country? Nothing at all," said John Morris, the former chair of the El Paso County Democrats.

The group will be traveling across Colorado throughout August. They’re heading to Pueblo next week.