MONTE CARLO, MONACO -- (Marketwire) -- 07/03/09 -- The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) marked the beginning of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign's Tour de France efforts with a fundraising dinner, hosted by His Royal Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and Lance Armstrong on July 2, and the announcement of a new commitment to the campaign by La Ligue nationale contre le cancer.

An Evening with LIVESTRONG, created to raise funds for cancer, featured His Royal Highness Prince Albert, John R. Seffrin, Ph.D., CEO of the American Cancer Society, Doug Ulman, president and CEO of the LAF, and Lance Armstrong, chairman and founder of the LAF. Held at Monaco's Café de Paris, the evening included 100 guests, among them Their Royal Highnesses Prince Talal and Princess Ghida of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Adeline Garino, chairwoman of Ecoute Cancer Reconfort of Monaco.

"What you are trying to do to help cancer patients and people afflicted with this terrible disease from around the world is admirable and you have our full support," said His Royal Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco.

"Since the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign began in January, we have been building towards the Tour de France and towards this moment," said Armstrong. "As we work to make cancer a global priority, we are grateful for the support and the enthusiasm we are encountering, especially in Monaco and France. Today, La Ligue nationale contre le cancer has made a major new commitment to the fight against cancer and we congratulate them on a strategic investment that will support survivors all over the world."

La Ligue nationale contre le cancer has committed to the creation of a first-ever international French-speaking network dedicated to the fight against cancer. More than 20 countries in Africa and the Middle East will participate in the Afro-Mediterranean cancer network. The three-year project will focus on exchange of best practices and shared experiences to improve cancer control efforts and survivor support in French-speaking countries. The commitment, which will begin in October 2009, will bring together survivors, their families and friends, healthcare professionals, hospitals and clinics to tailor efforts to individual country needs. The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) is also partnering with La Ligue to bring together this unprecedented multi-national effort to fight cancer.

The LAF is pleased to donate the proceeds from 130,000 LIVESTRONG wristbands sold in France and Monaco for EUR 1 during the course of the Tour de France to La Ligue Contre le Cancer and Ecoute Cancer Reconfort, which provides resources to the Princess Grace Hospital to support cancer survivors.

Also announced was today's debut of LIVESTRONG Action, a new online platform that will empower millions to join the fight against cancer.

"LIVESTRONG Action will give cancer survivors and their families an opportunity to join the fight against cancer and celebrate a loved one with a dedication," said Ulman. "Through LIVESTRONG Action, people all over the world will create a living document that will reflect both the global and the personal toll cancer takes."

Using cutting-edge online organizing techniques that have revolutionized politics and social movements, the LAF will collect signatures to the World Cancer Declaration throughout the Tour de France at www.LIVESTRONGAction.org. Each supporter will have the opportunity to dedicate his or her signature to someone who has served as an inspiration. The LAF will build these submissions into the world's largest dedication book -- a living document that demonstrates the personal impact of cancer by showing the extended network of friends and supporters touched by each cancer survivor. As the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign continues, the LAF will share this one-of-a-kind document with world leaders as they are called upon to make major commitments to the fight against cancer. LIVESTRONGAction.org goes live today, July 3.

Also throughout the Tour de France, long-time LAF partner and supporter Nike will continue the "It's About You" campaign in conjunction with the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign. "It's About You" includes a television commercial and a collection of digital short films featuring inspirational cancer stories, new social networking elements to help ignite a groundswell of support to fight cancer, and dozens of LIVESTRONG city and sporting event moments across the United States and France. Beginning with Stage 2 of the Tour on July 5, Nike will give supporters the opportunity to submit inspirational messages online or by text to a custom-made "Chalkbot" that will write those messages in yellow chalk on the roads of the Tour de France, following the cycling tradition of inscribing inspirational messages along the course.

To send a message, supporters are encouraged to text "LIVESTRONG," followed by their message, to 31001 in France or 36453 in the U.S. on a mobile phone, or visit www.wearyellow.com. If the message is selected, it will be printed on the Tour de France route. Message authors will then receive an email with GPS coordinates providing the location where their message will be chalked, viewable via Google Maps.

About the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign

In September 2008, Armstrong announced the Foundation's commitment to making cancer a global priority at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York. The LAF made this commitment after its worldwide research, conducted over 18 months, revealed widespread misconceptions, stigma and lack of awareness associated with cancer. In response, the LAF established the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign to urgently address the burden of cancer worldwide and support the 28 million people living with cancer around the globe. Cancer kills more people every year than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. It is estimated that cancer will be the leading cause of death worldwide by 2010. With such staggering statistics, the LAF recognized that a global challenge like cancer required a global movement. And so it began urging world leaders, leading cancer organizations and cancer survivors to join together by making commitments to take action in their communities to reduce the burden of cancer.

The LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign is proud of its successes to date in Australia, California, Mexico, Italy, and currently the Tour de France (July 4-26). The LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign will make its next stop at the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland (Aug. 24-26), as well as other locations to be announced. For more information on the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign, please visit www.LIVESTRONGblog.org.

About the Lance Armstrong Foundation

At the Lance Armstrong Foundation, we fight for the 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. There can be -- and should be -- life after cancer for more people. That's why we kick in at the moment of diagnosis, giving people the resources and support they need to fight cancer head-on. We find innovative ways to raise awareness, fund research and end the stigma about cancer that many survivors face. We connect people and communities to drive social change, and we call for state, national and world leaders to help fight this disease. Anyone anywhere can join our fight against cancer. Join us at www.LIVESTRONG.org.

The LAF and the American Cancer Society (ACS) have formed a first-of-its-kind partnership to empower and support cancer survivors all over the world and aggressively address the global cancer burden. As part of its ongoing global commitment to fight cancer, the ACS has become an international collaborating partner for the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland this August. The ACS will participate in LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign events at the Tour de France and CEO John Seffrin will join the U.S. delegation to the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland, this August.

About La Ligue nationale contre le cancer

Founded in 1918, La Ligue nationale contre le cancer (The French National League Against Cancer) is a non-profit association based in Paris, France focused on the missions of research, disease prevention and support for patients and their loved ones. The independent association relies on private donations and the efforts of its 740,000 members and more than 10,000 volunteers. The League is present in communities across France via more than 100 regional affiliate committees. More information is available online at http://www.ligue-cancer.net/.