WASHINGTON: The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) today announced the launch of Labor Against Cancer, a movement to end the devastation of cancer, led by the passionate members of the UFCW.
This new initiative features a fundraising drive among members, retail campaigns, and walking to end cancer with LLS's Light The Night, and represents an unprecedented effort to mobilize over a million members and their families to build awareness and help raise the funds needed to find a cure for blood cancers. The UFCW represents 1.3 million members and has been a powerful voice for LLS since the partnership began in 1982. The organization has raised $83 million for LLS's goal to find cures and ensure blood cancer patients have access to lifesaving treatments.
"This new initiative not only reflects our union family's growing commitment to our communities, but to the cause of finding a cure for blood cancers. Whether you are a union member or not, we are determined to do our part to ensure that no one fighting cancer will struggle alone," said UFCW International President Marc Perrone. "We are so proud to stand with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to launch Labor Against Cancer. Our partnership is a testament to our members and what can be accomplished when we all unite together."
Every three minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with blood cancer, and every nine minutes someone dies from blood cancer. Today, nearly 1.3 million people in the U.S. are living with, or are in remission from a blood cancer. The funds raised during this campaign will help LLS advance research to find new treatments and cures.
As there are no means of preventing or screening for most blood cancers, LLS is focused on finding cures; the organization is doing more than any other to find cures and help patients access lifesaving treatments. In its 68 year history, LLS has invested more than $1 billion in research to advance cancer treatments and cures. And the progress made in the blood cancers is helping patients with other cancers and chronic diseases.
"While it's never a good time to have cancer, it is a phenomenal time to be fighting it. We at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society want everyone to know that we are working with the world's best researchers and physicians, and industry and government partners, to advance new therapies and give hope to blood cancer patients across the country and the world," said LLS President and Chief Executive Officer Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D. "As the world's largest non-profit dedicated to ending blood cancers, LLS is honored to partner with UFCW, with its own powerful network of communities, to have a positive impact on all blood cancer patients and families."
Labor Against Cancer will raise much needed funds to advance research and patient support in partnership with LLS while raising awareness of the important role that union members play each and every day.
