Armstrong to tour Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, run Boston Marathon and throw ceremonial first pitch at Red Sox game


(April 22, 2008) Lance Armstrong, founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), met with cancer survivors, toured the Dana Farber-Cancer Institute (DFCI) and its Lance Armstrong Foundation Adult Survivorship Clinic (LAFASC) in Boston today. Continuing the LAF quest to make cancer a national priority, Armstrong is visiting Boston for a series of events to raise awareness and funds for the fight against cancer. Saturday, Armstrong will throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Red Sox game at Fenway Park and Monday, he will be one of 50 LIVESTRONG team members running the historic Boston marathon.

In 2004, the LAF joined forces with the DFCI to establish the lance Armstrong Foundation Adult Survivorship Clinic to provide clinical services for adult cancer survivors. Since then, the LAF clinic has cared for more than 600 individual patients at more than 1,400 medical appointments. These include checkups with the clinic’s doctors and nurse practitioners, endocrinology care, and psychosocial consultation that help address the spectrum of late effects from treatment faced by cancer survivors.

“I am honored my foundation can play a role in supporting the cancer survivors and hard-working professionals at Dana-Farber,” said Armstrong. “For over 60 years, Dana-Farber has been serving Boston’s cancer community and I saw firsthand today the impact they are having against this deadly disease.

“We have an opportunity this year to elect a President who will make cancer the priority across this nation that it is here at Dana-Farber. When 12 million Americans are touched by this disease, it’s time for real national leadership and real action.”

"Lance Armstrong has provided tremendous leadership and magnificent support through the LAF, enabling Dana-Farber to launch the Lance Armstrong Foundation Adult Survivorship Clinic in 2004,” said Dana-Farber Cancer Institute President Edward J. 
Benz, Jr., MD. “This allowed us to revolutionize the care and services that are provided to those adults living beyond cancer.”

In addition to the visit to DFCI, Team LIVESTRONG, comprised of 50 runners affected by cancer and led by Armstrong, will run in Monday’s Boston Marathon to raise funds for the fight against cancer. The team hopes to raise $200,000 by Monday; all proceeds will be donated to the LAF. Nike is sponsoring the team this year and has outfitted each of the runners with gear from their LIVESTRONG line. All proceeds from the LIVESTRONG line are also donated directly to the LAF, a commitment NIKE made in 2007.

Armstrong will also throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Red Sox game on Saturday. The Red Sox will play the Texas Rangers.