Lance Armstrong Hosts Public Forum On Cancer With Presidential Candidates

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Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 20 Jul 2007 - 10:00 PDT

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The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) has announced that it will be hosting the 2-day LIVESTRONG Presidentail Cancer Forum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa next month, where Democratic and Republican candidates for the 2008 US presidential election will present and discuss their policies for fighting cancer and answer questions from an audience made up from members of the public.

"Why wouldn't you talk about the number one killer in this country? Whoever wants to be commander in chief, ought to answer the cancer question."

These are the words spoken by Lance Armstrong, cancer survivor and champion cyclist, to explain why he is facilitating the first ever gathering of US presidential candidates to discuss the disease that kills over half a million Americans every year.

"Cancer is non-partisan. It's the number one killer of Americans under 85," said Armstrong, who founded the LAF and is its current chairman.

"It's time for all presidential candidates to let us know where they stand on the issue," he explained.

Armstrong founded LAF with the support of NIKE the sports company in 1997 before he knew whether he would survive testicular cancer. The cancer had metastasized to his brain and lungs. His treatment included extensive chemotherapy and surgery.

The aim of the LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum is to give people a chance to ask questions of the presidential candidates, and tickets are free.

The experience of cancer and the work undertaken by himself and friends and family to obtain the right treatment and information convinced Armstrong that something should be done to unite people to fight cancer. The motto of the LAF is that "unity is strength, knowledge is power, and attitude is everything".

Armstrong said that the "dream is that we get rid of this disease forever", and that the forthcoming elections and this event will give ordinary Americans a chance to ask the candidates what they propose to do about cancer if and when they win.

Among its achievements in the ten years since its inception the LAF lists programs to support cancer survivors, research and community projects, partnerships with other cancer organizations, providing tools and educational materials to cancer patients and their families, raising national awareness and lobbying Congress to fund cancer research.

In the weeks leading up to the Presidential Cancer Forum, Armstrong will be riding across the state of Iowa with more than 10,000 participants in the state's 35th annual RAGBRAI, the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.

This year's participants of the RAGBRAI includeds 150 cyclists from Team LIVESTRONG, comprising cancer survivors, their relatives and their friends. Team LIVESTRONG has raised over 300,000 dollars for the LAF.

"Through their fundraising and outreach efforts, each member of Team LIVESTRONG demonstrates a remarkable commitment to the Foundation's mission to inspire and empower people affected by cancer," said Armstrong in a press release.

"Their support enables the LAF to better meet the needs of cancer survivors and help make cancer a national priority," he said.

Armstrong is urging all RAGBRAI cyclists and spectators to wear LIVESTRONG gear or something yellow on Wednesday, July 25, LIVESTRONG Iowa Day.

The stated purpose of the event is to make people aware of the needs of millions of Americans affected by cancer and to encourage political leaders to make cancer a priority.

On the evening of that day there will be a charity concert in Cedar Falls, featuring Blues Traveler, the proceeds of which will go to the LAF, and a portion will be distributed locally in the Cedar valley area.

"This year, RAGBRAI will help me set the stage for the first-ever LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum," said Armstrong.

"I encourage all riders to get involved and urge our potential leaders to make cancer a priority on the political agenda," he added.

Click here for more information about cancer from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Click here for more information about the LIVESTRONG Presidential Cancer Forum and to register for a free ticket.

Written by: Catharine Paddock
Writer: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today