They said it wouldn’t happen

Not too long ago an effort began to make Texas the global leader in cancer research and prevention. The typical response in those first days was one of doubt. They said it wouldn’t happen.

Yet this morning some Texas lawmakers and I boarded a bus, Survivor One, just a few blocks from our Capitol in Austin, Texas and continued our efforts to make the impossible a reality — in defiance of conventional wisdom and in support of what’s best for Texans and people fighting cancer everywhere.

Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the fight against cancer. I will be traveling my home state in Survivor One with Texas leaders over the next few days to tell Texans about Proposition 15, a ballot initiative that, if passed, will launch an unprecedented effort to fuel cancer research and help reverse an unacceptable trend — decreasing federal money for cancer science.

Proposition 15 authorizes up to $3 billion in Texas funds for cancer research, prevention, early detection and control programs. It also establishes the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute. It represents what we must do to combat a disease that affects every single one of us.

Some of the Texas legislators who sponsored the bill — Senator Jane Nelson, Senator Kirk Watson, Representative Jim Keffer and Representative Patrick Rose — will be coming with me along the Texas highways. We are going to stop at hospitals and town squares. And I am going to convince every Texan I can that we must vote for Proposition 15.

This morning, we launched our journey before a crowd of about 3,000 LIVESTRONG Challenge participants, all of them gathered on the grounds of the Capitol and eager to hit the pavement of Congress Avenue for a 5K run or walk in support of the Foundation and people battling cancer. It’s a beautiful day in Austin. My friend, tennis player Andy Roddick, came out to run with me. Tomorrow we will be riding in the hills west of Austin as the LIVESTRONG Challenge continues.

As I said to the crowd this morning, this is a vote for the future of Texas and future Texans.

They said it wouldn’t happen. But we like to do things they say will never happen. I hope you’ll join us …