The Lance Armstrong Foundation Premieres The LIVESTRONG(R) Global Cancer Summit August 24-26, 2009 - Dublin, Ireland

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 21 Aug 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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Today, the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) announced details of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit, an unparalleled three-day event - August 24-26, 2009 - that provides a unique platform for advocates to create a sustained movement that changes the course of cancer in history. More than 500 world leaders, representatives of corporations, non-governmental organizations and individual advocates will convene at the Royal Dublin Society in Dublin, Ireland to showcase the more than 300 commitments to cancer control made as part of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign, an LAF initiative to urgently address the global cancer burden. The Summit will take place immediately following LAF Founder and Chairman, cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong's participation in the Tour of Ireland, Aug 21-23.

"Cancer will be the leading cause of death next year unless we act on a global level," said Armstrong. "Our goal is to be the catalyst that brings everyone together to fight cancer-from survivors, like me, to advocates from the farthest reaches of the globe, to world leaders and policymakers who must commit completely to the effort to avoid a public health catastrophe."

Never before has a unified global movement against cancer been launched. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with other advocates, network, gain media exposure and access tools and resources to help them mobilize in their own communities. The Summit marks an end as well as a new beginning. It serves as the culmination of seven months of awareness-raising by the Foundation during Armstrong's return season to professional cycling and launches a global grassroots movement to take action against cancer.

"The Summit provides an invaluable opportunity to stand up for the 28 million cancer survivors worldwide and create a unified effort to control cancer through new commitments to action," said Doug Ulman, LAF President and CEO. "I am eager to join many of the world's public health leaders and advocates to set a path for reducing the burden of this disease that claims far too many lives."

At the Summit, the first report detailing the global burden of cancer in economic terms will be unveiled. It is also the first report to quantify the global gap in cancer spending. The new report, Breakaway: The global burden of cancer - challenges and opportunities, was commissioned by LIVESTRONG and developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit with support from the American Cancer Society.

In its inaugural year, the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign has broken new ground with successes to date in Australia, California, Mexico, Italy and throughout the Tour de France. For more information on the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign, please visit http://www.LIVESTRONGAction.org.

Source
Lance Armstrong Foundation