LIVESTRONG San Jose 2010 wrap up press release

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 Below: the final wrap-up press release from LIVESTRONG Challenge, San Jose 2010. LIVESTRONG® CHALLENGE SAN JOSE PARTICIPANTS RAISE $1 MILLION FOR FIGHT AGAINST CANCER SAN JOSE, Calif. – July 12, 2010 – LIVESTRONG is pleased to announce the San Jose LIVESTRONG Challenge raised more than $1 million this weekend for the fight against cancer. Yesterday more than 1,600 runners, walkers and cyclists, along with 475 volunteers, gathered at the San Jose Center for Performing Arts to participate in the LIVESTRONG Challenge, one of LIVESTRONG’s signature fundraising events. Through the generosity of 11,623 donors, San Jose participants raised funds to support cancer survivorship programs and initiatives. The LIVESTRONG Challenge was held for the third time in San Jose and will continue in Philadelphia (Aug. 21-22) and Austin, TX (Oct. 22-24). San Jose participants took part in the event by riding 10, 50, 65 or 100 miles, with courses starting at the San Jose Center for Performing Arts, located at Almaden and Park Blvd., and moving through Silicon Valley and the heart of downtown San Jose. “It’s exciting to see so many in the Bay Area join with the LIVESTRONG Challenge to combat cancer,” said Don Perata, prostate cancer survivor, a former California senator. “Cancer is projected to become the leading cause of death worldwide this year. Without global action, the number of people living with—and dying from—the disease will triple by 2030.” Following the race, participants and supporters gathered at the LIVESTRONG Village to enjoy music, food, games and exhibits. "For the third year in a row, the people of San Jose have come together in solidarity against a disease that touches everyone in America," said Doug Ulman, cancer survivor and president and CEO of LIVESTRONG. "We're deeply grateful for their support in LIVESTRONG's global fight against cancer." On Saturday evening, awards were given at a fundraising appreciation dinner. Patt Baenen-Tapscott won top fundraising honors, raising more than $20,727. Baenen-Tapscott, a breast cancer survivor, became an active LIVESTRONG fundraiser after her treatment left her with a desire to give back and improve the lives of others with cancer. She formed Team Beat the Clock and has been making a difference in the fight against cancer for six years. Team Spike the Wonder Dog was awarded the Team Champion Award. Team Spike, led by Jeff Swan and Sherilyn Dahl, had 44 members and raised over $46,000. The team dedicated their victory to friend and coworker Janna Middleton, who lost her battle with brain cancer earlier this year. In three years, San Jose LIVESTRONG Challenge participants have raised more than $4 million. Since its inception in 1997, LIVESTRONG has raised more than $350 million to support cancer survivors. In economic terms, cancer's impact on California's fiscal well-being is far greater when viewed through the lens of the leading—and entirely preventable—cause of cancer: tobacco. Over the past 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. As a result, California loses $9 billion in tobacco-related health care costs per year. LIVESTRONG offers support to cancer survivors and their families at the moment of diagnosis by providing free, confidential support through education, referrals and counseling services. To learn more about how to fight back, visit the LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare website at www.livestrong.org/Get-Help or call 866-673-7205.