Lance Armstrong Foundation Premieres The LIVESTRONG(TM) Global Cancer Campaign In Australia

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 21 Jan 2009 - 7:00 PDT

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Today the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) premiered its LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign, an initiative to address the worldwide cancer burden, in Australia, where Lance Armstrong, LAF founder and chairman, cancer survivor and champion cyclist, is making his return to professional cycling at the Tour Down Under.  The campaign's official launch took place at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Adelaide, South Australia. Armstrong and Doug Ulman, LAF President and CEO and three-time cancer survivor, were joined by the Treasurer for the Commonwealth of Australia and prostate cancer survivor, the Honorable Wayne Swan, MP; South Australia Premier, the Honorable Mike Rann, MP; members of the Adelaide healthcare community; leading Australian cancer organizations; and cancer survivors.

"In the 1,274 days since I last rode competitively, approximately 27.5 million people have died from cancer around the world," said Armstrong.  "A single organization cannot tackle this epidemic alone -- it will truly take a global effort to conquer cancer.  Starting today, we're building a global movement, and we're going to win."

In September 2008, Armstrong announced the Foundation's commitment to making cancer a global priority at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York.  The LAF made this commitment after its worldwide research, conducted over 18 months, revealed widespread misconceptions, stigma and lack of awareness associated with cancer and recognized an immediate need to address this global epidemic. The LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign is focused on supporting the 28 million people living with cancer worldwide, dispelling the misconceptions surrounding the disease and urging world leaders, leading cancer organizations and cancer survivors to join together in this effort.

"The LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign aims to inspire, empower and mobilize people in countries around the world, adding more voices to the movement," said Ulman.  "Our campaign has already seen an outstanding show of support from Australian leaders and leading cancer organizations.  We are grateful to them for joining us in this effort and look forward to establishing long-term partnerships that will improve the lives of people across this nation."

By 2010, cancer is projected to become the leading cause of death worldwide.  It is already the leading cause of death in Australia and three in 10 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.  There are more than 106,000 new cases of cancer and approximately 38,000 deaths from the disease each year.  While lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in Australia, rates for Melanoma -- a cancer that is largely preventable by protecting against harmful UV rays -- are higher in this nation than anywhere in world.  The good news is that the Australian government is working together with leading medical institutions and cancer organizations to increase funding for cancer research and prevention and improve health care.

The LAF commends the strides Australia is making in the fight against cancer and as a result has chosen to invest in the innovative research occurring in this country.  The LAF recently awarded a grant to the University of Sydney in the area of lung cancer survivorship. Since lung cancer is the leading cancer killer in this country, the LAF recognized the need to explore new ways to reduce the death and suffering of patients diagnosed with this form of cancer.  Today, the LAF announced a second grant awarded to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne in the area of adolescent and young adult oncology -- the forgotten demographic which has not seen an increase in survival rates in more than 30 years.  The LAF places a special focus on raising awareness and effecting positive change for young adults with cancer through its LIVESTRONG Young Adult Alliance, which includes 112 member organizations, and this grant will build on that progress.

Following Australia, the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign will head to the Amgen Tour of California (Feb. 14-22, California, United States), the Tour of Flanders (Apr. 5, Brugge, Belgium) and the Tour de France (July 4-26, France) with more to be announced.  For more information on the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign, please visit http://www.livestrongblog.org.

About The Lance Armstrong Foundation

At the Lance Armstrong Foundation, we fight for the 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. There can be -- and should be -- life after cancer for more people. That's why we kick in at the moment of diagnosis, giving people the resources and support they need to fight cancer head-on. We find innovative ways to raise awareness, fund research and end the stigma about cancer that many survivors face. We connect people and communities to drive social change, and we call for state, national and world leaders to help fight this disease. Anyone anywhere can join our fight against cancer.

http://www.LIVESTRONG.org