Nancy Brinker and Lance Armstrong honored by AACR

Ambassador Nancy Brinker and Lance Armstrong will receive inaugural AACR Centennial Medals for Distinguished Public Service during special opening ceremonies of the 2007 AACR Annual Meeting. Both are being recognized for their extraordinary contributions to cancer research advocacy and awareness.

Nancy Brinker, is the founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, formerly the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. She is being recognized for her significant and sustained effort in the fight against breast cancer. Now celebrating the organization's 25th year, Ambassador Brinker's vision and leadership has led Komen to be an internationally recognized organization dedicated to eradicating breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing cancer education, screening, treatment and research. Through its hugely successful Komen Race for the Cure, the foundation and its 125 affiliates have invested nearly $1 billion dollars in breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment, making Komen – aside from the federal government -- the single largest source of funds for breast cancer research and programs in the United States.

Ambassador Brinker has also been a strong advocate in the political arena, serving on the National Cancer Advisory Board, the President's Cancer Panel and the steering committee of the National Dialogue on cancer. She is also a member of the AACR's Council of Scientific Advisors.

Lance Armstrong, cancer survivor and seven-time Tour De France winner, founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) in 1997. He is being honored for his excellence and leadership in advocacy for cancer survivors. In choosing to share with the world his personal history with cancer, he has used his influence to advocate for cancer research and survivorship, inspiring individuals to raise funds and spurring scientists toward a cure. Through the LIVESTRONG campaign with its signature yellow bracelets worn by 55 million people worldwide, LAF has raised millions of dollars and tremendously increased public awareness about cancer.

In his role as a mentor for the President's Cancer Panel, Armstrong has been an effective advocate for ensuring that cancer retains a prominent place in the national dialogue.

Both Brinker and Armstrong were chosen by the AACR Board of Directors, a distinguished panel of senior scientists, to receive this prestigious Centennial Medal and have been invited to make remarks during the Centennial Ceremony on Sunday, April 15th, beginning at 7:30 a.m.