American Cancer Society Marks 100th Birthday with Call to Finish the Fight

ATLANTA, April 26, 2013 /3BL Media/ – On Wednesday, May 22, 2013, the American Cancer Society will celebrate 100 years of saving lives and creating more birthdays.

“The American Cancer Society has played a role in nearly every cancer research breakthrough in recent history,” says Dr. John Seffrin, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society. “Since 1913, we’ve helped save nearly 1.2 million lives. As the official sponsor of birthdays, we know how important each and every birthday is.”

The Society has contributed to a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates in the United States since the early 1990s. Today, 2 out of 3 people diagnosed with cancer are surviving for at least five years. As a result, more than 400 people a day are celebrating birthdays that would have otherwise been lost to the disease.  Even as the Society marks this momentous milestone, the focus remains on the ambitious undertaking that still lies ahead --- changing the statistics from 2 out of 3 people surviving cancer today in the U.S., to 3 out of 3 surviving.

“With your help, we want to finish the fight. We’re determined to make this cancer’s last century,” says Seffrin. “We’ve never been more ready to put the American Cancer Society out of business.”

In recognition of the Society’s 100th birthday, the following events and opportunities are being planned.