Lance Armstrong Foundation

The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) is a United States charitable organization providing support for people affected by cancer, founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong. The LAF states that its mission is 'to inspire and empower' cancer sufferers and their families, under the motto "unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything". The LAF also aims to provide practical information and tools for cancer sufferers in addition to its work in the fields of advocacy, public health and research. The organisation is based in Austin, Texas.

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Educational Resources

LIVESTRONG Survivorship Notebook

  The LIVESTRONG Survivorship Notebook provides information on the physical, practical and emotional topics of cancer survivorship -- such as aftereffects of treatment -- to help those affected by cancer navigate and take control of their cancer experience. The Notebook covers a variety of issues, ranging from financial and estate planning to suggestions for record-keeping of surgery dates, changes in physical and emotional health, medications taken, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and follow-up appointments. The Survivorship Notebook also provides stories from other cancer survivors and additional resources available.

LIVESTRONG Resource for Cancer Survivors

The LIVESTRONG Resource for Cancer Survivors is an online resource of information to help cancer survivors navigate their survivorship experience. Survivorship Topics address physical, emotional and practical issues through high-level overviews that progress into more detailed information. In addition to the Survivorship Notebook and the online Resource, the LAF also provides culturally relevant and easy to read treatment brochures. The online Resource also includes more than 5,000 stories from cancer survivors who wanted to share their experience with others. Learn more.

Community Program

The LAF Community Program provides financial support and capacity-building to community-centered initiatives that address the physical, emotional and practical challenges of cancer survivorship. Through the program, the LAF awards planning, implementation and evolution grants to community, nonprofit organizations to serve the needs of people living with cancer as identified by the National Action Plan for Cancer Survivorship: Advancing Public Health Strategies. The LAF also offers its Community Program partners regular training, technical assistance and the opportunity to discuss challenges and exchange best practices at an annual Community Program conference. Since its inception in 2001, the LAF Community Program has awarded more than $3.7 million to 147 nonprofit organizations across the country.

Survivorship Centers

The LIVESTRONG Survivorship Centers of Excellence Network (LIVESTRONG Network) advances the concept of survivorship research, care and services, and truly enhances the concept of collaboration. To date, the LAF has funded the following NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers as members of the LIVESTRONG Network: UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (Los Angeles, Calif.); Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Seattle, Wash.); University of Colorado Cancer Center (Denver, Colo.); Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York, N.Y.); and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston, Mass.).

Through participation in the LIVESTRONG Network, the collective productivity of the participating centers is considerably greater than the sum of their individual efforts. As part of the Network, each center will have formal partnerships with LIVESTRONG Survivorship Centers of Excellence affiliates, including those located in traditionally underserved communities. Through these relationships, the LAF seeks to facilitate information sharing of research results, new interventions, expertise, clinical trials, patient referrals and cancer survivors’ needs to significantly accelerate progress in the field of cancer survivorship.

LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare

LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare offers assistance to help survivors face the everyday physical, emotional and practical challenges of cancer through education, qualified referrals and counseling services. LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare provides emotional support, individual counseling, financial assistance, assistance with legal and/or insurance issues, and matching to clinical trials. Learn more.

National Partnerships

The LAF forms long-term agreements with organizations to enhance the public health infrastructure surrounding survivorship issues. this is the best Learn More.

National Action Plan

Developed for the public health community by LAF and the Centers for Disease Control, the National Action Plan for Cancer Survivorship helps health organizations, physicians and caregivers understand and address survivorship needs. Learn More.

Advocacy

The LAF advocacy team sponsors initiatives to make survivorship a national health priority and help the voice of the cancer community be heard in Washington. The LAF educates lawmakers and the public; raises awareness about the health policy issues facing cancer survivors and their loved ones; and works to increase funding for federal cancer survivorship programs, increase access to quality care and reduce disparities in treatment. Currently, the LAF is specifically working to increase funding for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The NCI needs $6.17 billion to maintain its current pace of discovery and the CDC National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program needs $25 million. Learn more.

LIVESTRONG Day

The goal of LIVESTRONG Day is to increase awareness on Capitol Hill of the needs of cancer survivors. Every year, advocates go to Washington, D.C., to meet with Members of Congress and their staffs. In 2005, advocates asked for their commitment to eliminate cancer death and suffering and to provide the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) cancer survivorship programs with critical resources to support people affected by cancer.

President's Cancer Panel

In May of 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Lance Armstrong to serve as a member of the President's Cancer Panel (PCP), and in August of 2005, President Bush reappointed Lance to the PCP for a second, three-year term. The PCP monitors the development and execution of the activities of the National Cancer Program and reports directly to the President.

Research

The LAF funds research initiatives and programs that focus on improving the lives of cancer survivors. Since its inception, the Foundation has committed more than $14.4 million toward research projects. The LAF awards research grants focusing on two key areas:
• Issues of Survivorship
• The basic and clinical science of testicular cancer

Fundraising and Community-Building Events

The LAF believes that unity is strength and that one of the best ways to act on that is to hold events that bring the cancer community together to raise money in support of its mission and to celebrate survivorship.

LIVESTRONG Challenge

The LIVESTRONG Challenge is a series of community-building fundraising events that take place across the country. The LIVESTRONG Challenge includes the signature LIVESTRONG Ride, as well as 5K run/walk to allow people of all ages and physical abilities to participate and raise funds for cancer survivors. In 2006, they took place in Southern California; Portland, OR; Denver, CO; Philadelphia, PA; and Austin, TX. In 2007, there will be three events held in Portland, OR; Philadelphia, PA; and Austin, TX. To learn more or to register for the ride, go to the LIVESTRONG Challenge Web site.

Ride for the Roses

Riders who raise more than $10,000 for the LIVESTRONG Challenge will be invited to participate in the Ride for the Roses in Austin, Texas, on October 12-14.

Grassroots Fundraising

The LAF relies on individuals in communities across the world to further its mission to inspire and empower people affected by cancer. Individuals, groups, businesses, schools and clubs can raise funds by holding events or participating in established events, such as marathons or triathlons. Events can include fun runs and walks, bicycle rides, silent auctions or other organized activities. Aside from events, supporters also create letter writing campaigns or set up booths at a local community event, such as a fair or picnic. The LAF provides a number of tools to assist its fundraisers. These tools include a fundraising logo, media kit (which includes a sample press release and sample solicitation letters), informational pieces, a personal fundraising page on livestrong.org and additional materials specific to the event type. For more information, go to livestrong.org.

The LIVESTRONG Wristband

The LAF has sold more than 70 million wristbands nationwide, in more than 60 countries and in every continent (with the exception of Antarctica). The success of the campaign is a testament to the reality that nearly everyone is affected in some way by cancer.

LIVESTRONG Merchandise

Proceeds from merchandise sold at the LIVESTRONG Store help support the LAF's mission to inspire and empower people affected by cancer. The store includes LIVESTRONG wristbands, t-shirts, polo shirts, headwear, cycling gear and other accessories.

LIVESTRONG Galas

LIVESTRONG Galas are annual fundraisers that benefit the LAF public health, advocacy and research programs. The evening's events include dinner, a silent auction, LIVESTRONG Awards for people who have made a significant impact in the world of cancer survivorship, as well as a moving program featuring a keynote speaker and celebrity guests.

LIVESTRONG Laptops

Sponsored in part by HP, uses modified Compaq V2000z Laptops. Every laptop sold under this special edition series, starting with the L2000, $50 from the laptop purchase goes directly to the LAF. Included with the laptop is a pouch with a letter of gratitude, a LIVESTRONG wristband, and yellow headphones.

10//2

"October 2, 1996. The day it all changed. The day I started never to take anything for granted. The day I learned to take charge of my life. It was the day I was diagnosed with cancer," Lance Armstrong said. 10//2 is the day Lance started becoming a survivor, a day to overcome adversity and reaffirm life. 10//2 is also the name of the line of clothing produced by Nike in association with Armstrong.

References

About Us. Livestrong. Lance Armstrong Foundation (2006). Retrieved on 2006-03-27. The Lance Armstrong Foundation