Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Named LIVESTRONG® Community Impact Project Finalist and Award Recipient

BUFFALO, NY – April 9, 2012 – Today Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center was announced as a LIVESTRONG® Community Impact Project finalist and award recipient. The project, created by the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the non-profit founded by the cancer survivor and champion cyclist to serve people affected by cancer and empower them to take action, will bring proven cancer support programs to 90 communities across the United States.

“We are proud to be named as a LIVESTRONG Community Impact Project award recipient,” said Judy Smith, MD, Medical Director at Roswell Park. “Once again, our dedicated community of supporters demonstrated their commitment to Roswell Park and our efforts on behalf of cancer patients. This award will enable our team to enhance the services they provide and will raise important awareness of the critical role Palliative Care plays in the lives of cancer patients and their families.”

“By investing in these bold and innovative cancer support programs, the Lance Armstrong Foundation is providing inspiration and empowerment to area residents so they can band together as a community to face cancer head-on,” said Doug Ulman, Foundation president and CEO.  “We are grateful to each and every person who voted for making their voices heard and improving access to care for those affected by cancer.”

More than 200 qualified hospitals, cancer centers, university students and community organizations in eight regions across the United States were selected to participate in an online voting campaign. Over a two-week period, more than 450,000 votes were cast and Roswell Park was among the finalists. Roswell Park’s Palliative Care team will use the $10,000 award to take part in a national training program that will support their efforts to obtain the Joint Commission’s Advanced Certification Program for Palliative Care.

Advanced Certification for Palliative Care is designed to set standards and acknowledge hospitals providing state-of-the-art palliative care services that relieve symptoms and stress of serious illness and improve quality of life for patients.  The Center to Advance Palliative Care will provide tools and training to 20 hospitals and cancer centers across the country to assist in their efforts to qualify for the Certification.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation is committed to supporting community organizations in their efforts to help cancer survivors face the challenges and changes that come with cancer. Since its inception in 1997, the organization has invested more than $70 million in community-centered organizations.

About Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Roswell Park, founded in 1898, was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit Roswell Park’s website, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org.

About the Lance Armstrong Foundation
The Lance Armstrong Foundation serves people affected by cancer and empowers them to take action against the world’s leading cause of death. With its iconic yellow LIVESTRONG wristband, the Foundation became a symbol of hope and inspiration to people throughout the world affected by cancer. Created in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the Foundation provides free patient navigation services to survivors with financial, emotional and practical challenges that accompany the disease.  Known for its powerful brand – LIVESTRONG – the Foundation is also a leader in the global movement on behalf of 28 million people living with cancer today. Since its inception in 1997, the Foundation has raised more than $450 million for the fight against cancer. For more information, visit LIVESTRONG.org.