Today we put out the following press release.

LIVESTRONG Endorses California Cancer Research Act

AUSTIN, Texas – June 30, 2010 –Today, LIVESTRONG announced its endorsement of the California Cancer Research Act (CCRA), an initiative led by the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids that dedicates more than $500 million to the creation of new ways to prevent, detect, treat and cure cancer.  It will fund anti-tobacco education efforts and save thousands of California teenagers from deadly smoking habits by creating a $1 tax on packs of cigarettes.

In 2010, cancer will become the world’s leading cause of death, claiming eight million lives – more than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.  In California, nearly one in two children born today will develop cancer at some point in their lives and one in five will die from it.  This year alone, more than 140,000 Californians will be diagnosed and more than 50,000 will be lost.

In economic terms, cancer’s impact on California’s fiscal well-being is especially rough when viewed through the lens of the leading – and entirely preventable – cause of cancer, tobacco.  Over the last decade, the tobacco industry has poured 10 times as many marketing dollars into California as the state has been able to invest in tobacco education.  The result: California loses $9 billion in tobacco-related healthcare costs per year.

Lance Armstrong, LIVESTRONG founder and chairman, cancer survivor and champion cyclist offered his support for the initiative.  “Big Tobacco is likely to unleash a tidal wave of opposition,” said Armstrong.  “Supporters of the California Cancer Research Act have worked hard to build awareness of the issue and recently turned in signatures, including an unprecedented 115,000 collected by volunteers, to qualify the measure for the 2012 presidential primary ballot.  America’s cancer community is hopeful that the people of this great state will set an example for the rest of the nation and make a strong stand in the fight against cancer.”