From Wrigley Field to McCormick Place, Chicago residents and visitors felt the energy surrounding the launch of The Campaign to Conquer Cancer during the ASCO 2015 Annual Meeting.
The Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (CCF) threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game on May 29 before the Annual Meeting to help kick off fundraising for The Campaign to Conquer Cancer. Today, CCF is encouraging all ASCO members to lend their support to the Campaign—a multiyear effort to raise $150 million to support the mission of ASCO and CCF—by sharing information about CCF and the Campaign in their communities and practices.
“The CCF Campaign is addressing key elements of ASCO’s mission of research, patient education, and quality of oncology practice,” said Campaign CoChair Robert J. Mayer, MD, FASCO, Faculty Vice President for Academic Affairs and Institute Physician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Stephen B. Kay Family Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. “To achieve those goals and ensure that we can continue to be leaders in the field, fund the best research, and serve the needs of our members, we need to broaden the circle of supporters who have gotten us this far, and invite new donors to be a part of the collective effort to conquer cancer.”
Dr. Mayer is Co-Chairing the Campaign with Thomas G. Roberts Jr, MD, Managing Member of Farallon Capital Management, LLC. Desirée Rogers, CEO of Johnson Publishing Company and long-time Chicago civic leader, is the Honorary Co-Chair.
Members’ participation in the Campaign through advocacy and building awareness is perhaps even more important to Dr. Mayer and Dr. Roberts than financial contributions.
“With this campaign we hope to see participation of a sizable percentage of the ASCO membership,” Dr. Mayer said. “It is not how much one gives, but how many people participate in the effort, indicating the broad support that the oncology community has for the Foundation and its work.”
The Campaign to Conquer Cancer provides a meaningful opportunity for patients, families, caregivers, and community members to support cancer research and the cancer community. Since the Campaign officially began in a silent phase in November 2011, donors have contributed more than $95 million in support of ASCO and CCF initiatives, including cancer research, quality of cancer care and CancerLinQ™, physician and patient education, and global oncology.
The “jewel in the crown” of CCF is its ability to provide funding opportunities for oncology professionals at various stages of their career, Dr. Mayer said. Funding opportunities available through the CCF include Research Professorships, Merit Awards, Advanced Clinical Research Awards, Career Development Awards, and Young Investigator Awards.
ASCO’s achievements—coupled with CCF’s support—have cemented its place among the world’s top cancer organizations. The Campaign to Conquer Cancer promises to build on this success and accelerate the field of cancer research and care for all patients.
To find out more about The Campaign to Conquer Cancer and lend your support, visit conquer.org. ■
Selected portions reprinted from ASCO Daily News. © American Society of Clinical Oncology. “The Campaign to Conquer Cancer Launched at Chicago Cubs Game.” https://am.asco.org/campaign-conquer-cancer-launched-chicago-cubs-game. All rights reserved.
