After more than 10 years of making cancer a national priority in the USA, the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) announces it is launching a global campaign to fight cancer. On September 24, 2008, Lance Armstrong, a cancer survivor and Tour de France cycling champion, announced the creation of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Awareness Campaign at the opening session of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York.

The global program will focus on supporting the 25 million people worldwide living with cancer, dispelling the misconceptions surrounding the disease, and urging world leaders to make cancer a greater priority.

Eight million people will die because of cancer this year. Deaths due to cancer outnumber those caused by AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation, founded in 1997, has raised more than $260 million to fight cancer and supports projects for cancer prevention, access to cancer screening and care, cancer research, and quality of life for cancer survivors.

Millions of people worldwide are victims not only of cancer, but of social stigma and misinformation. Many are isolated from friends and family. Because of shame or fear they often refuse early detection services or treatment. About a third of cancers could be cured if detected early and treated.

LAF will work with world leaders and other international partners for cancer advocacy, research and data collection. The LAF will kick off this effort at the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit in Paris at the end of the 2009 Tour de France.

Additional information on donating, signing the World Cancer Declaration, and other details of the Foundation’s work can be found on their website.