Stephen Lewis will Engage Young Leaders in the Fight Against Cancer

Campaign to Control Cancer Kicks off The People vs. Cancer Speaking Tour at Canadian Universities

TORONTO, March 24 /CNW Telbec/ - The Campaign to Control Cancer (C2CC) is launching The People vs. Cancer Speaking Tour featuring Stephen Lewis, sponsored by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Region. Mr. Lewis will speak at five Ontario universities and one in Halifax beginning March 24.

"Stephen Lewis will help spread the word that everyone, especially young people, can help in the fight against cancer but we need new, innovative ways to do this," says Jeff Rushton, Vice-Chair, Board of Directors, C2CC.

Mr. Lewis will draw on lessons learned in the global movement against HIV/AIDS, and will share his ideas about social action processes and the engagement of everyday people in cancer control. He will challenge Canadian universities and students to bring forward their skills, innovation, creativity and leadership to help significantly reduce cancer rates in one generation.

"It is not only important that young people understand that almost half of them may eventually suffer from this disease," says Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, Board Chair, Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and Past President, BC Cancer Agency, "but it is essential that they realize that they too can make a difference by taking responsibility in this battle."

In conjunction with the tour, C2CC is launching a series of Community Conversations to engage the public in this initiative. Ideas and comments that are shared during these conversations will be incorporated into a report that C2CC will bring to provincial legislatures across Canada later this year. C2CC is also advocating that the fight against cancer be added to the agenda of the G8 and G20 meetings in June, 2010.

"The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Region is proud to be the lead sponsor of this innovative effort to engage and mobilize students and communities. The Foundation is the largest volunteer-led organization dedicated to reducing the burden of breast cancer, which is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Canadian women. We wholeheartedly support the C2CC's drive to engage and mobilize the public in realizing the goal of reducing cancer rates in one generation." Sandra Palmaro, CEO, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation- Ontario Region.

Community Conversations Host Guides:

Individuals interested in leading or participating in one of these conversations can contact [email protected] or they can download the host guide at: www.controlcancer.ca/cc2010/register

The schedule for the speaking tour is:

    
    March 24, Sudbury, Laurentian University
    Hosted by: Northern Ontario School of Medicine/ École de médecine du Nord
    de l'Ontario and Laurentian University / Université Laurentienne
    Time: 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
    Location: Fraser Auditorium

    March 25, Ottawa, Carleton University
    Hosted by: Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs, Carleton University
    Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
    Location: Bell Theatre, Minto Building

    March 26, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Dalhousie University
    Hosted by: Dalhousie School of Health and Human Performance
    Time: 4:30pm - 6:30pm
    Location: Ondaatje Auditorium, McCain Building

    March 29, Kingston, Queen's University
    Hosted by: Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's
    University
    Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
    Location: Ellis Hall

    March 31, London, The University of Western Ontario
    Hosted by: Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and Faculty of Health
    Sciences, The University of Western Ontario and London Regional Cancer
    Program
    Time: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
    Location: Alumni Hall

    April 7, Toronto, University of Toronto
    Time: 5:00 p.m. - 7 p.m.
    Hosted by: The Dalla Lana School of Public Health Students Association
    and the Faculty of Medicine Location: University of Toronto - Medical
    Sciences Building, Room MS 2158

    For more information:

    Community Conversations on Cancer: www.controlcancer.ca/cc2010
    Stephen Lewis Tour 2010: www.controlcancer.ca/stephen-lewis-tour-2010
    

For further information: Media Inquiries can be directed to: Pat Kelly, CEO, Campaign to Control Cancer, 1-877-728-5355, Cell: 1-828-337-8313, [email protected]; Jennifer F. Modica, Communications Coordinator, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Ontario Region, [phone] ext. 208, [email protected]; Christina Magill, Stephen Lewis Foundation, [phone], [email protected]