Conquer Cancer Foundation Launches Public Campaign in Fight Against Cancer

Jun 29, 2015

ASCO members and the public work together to support Foundation’s mission

From Wrigley Field to McCormick Place, Chicago residents and visitors felt the energy surrounding the public launch of The Campaign to Conquer Cancer, a multiyear effort to raise $150 million to support the mission of ASCO and the Conquer Cancer Foundation (CCF) of ASCO.

CCF Board of Directors Chair W. Charles Penley, MD, FASCO, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Chicago Cubs baseball game on May 27 before the Annual Meeting to kick off fundraising for The Campaign to Conquer Cancer.

The Foundation encourages all ASCO members to lend their support by sharing information about CCF and the Campaign in their communities and practices.

“The CCF Campaign is addressing key elements of ASCO’s mission of research, patient education, and quality of oncology practice,” said Campaign Co-Chair Robert J. Mayer, MD, FASCO, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. “To achieve those goals and ensure that we can continue to be leaders in the field, fund the best research, and serve the needs of our members, we need to broaden the circle of supporters who have gotten us this far and invite new donors to be a part of the collective effort to conquer cancer.”

The Campaign to Conquer Cancer provides a meaningful opportunity for patients, families, caregivers, and community members to support cancer research and the oncology community. Since the Campaign officially began in a silent phase in November 2011, donors have contributed more than $100 million in support of ASCO and CCF initiatives, including cancer research, quality of cancer care and CancerLinQ™, physician and patient education, and global oncology.

Dr. Mayer is co-chairing the Campaign with Thomas G. Roberts, Jr., MD, Managing Member of Farallon Capital Management, LLC, and a member of the CCF Board of Directors. Long-time Chicago civic leader Desirée Rogers, CEO of Johnson Publishing Company, is the honorary Co-Chair.

ASCO members’ participation in the Campaign through advocacy and building awareness is perhaps even more important than financial contributions.

“With this campaign, we hope to see participation of a sizeable percentage of the ASCO membership,” Dr. Mayer said. “It is not how much one gives, but how many people participate in the effort, indicating the broad support that the oncology community has for the Foundation and its work.”

The “jewel in the crown” of the Foundation is its ability to provide funding opportunities for oncology professionals at various stages of their career, Dr. Mayer said. Funding opportunities available through CCF include Research Professorships, Merit Awards, Advanced Clinical Research Awards, Career Development Awards, and Young Investigator Awards.

ASCO’s achievements, coupled with CCF’s support, have cemented its place among the world’s top cancer organizations. The Campaign to Conquer Cancer promises to build on this success and accelerate the field of cancer research and care for all patients.

To find out more about The Campaign to Conquer Cancer and lend your support, visit conquer.org.


Advertisement
Back to Top