Lance Armstrong Foundation
The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) is a charitable organization providing support for people affected by cancer, founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong. The mission of LAF is 'to inspire and empower' cancer sufferers and their families. They believe that "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 organization is based in Austin, Texas.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
