The American Cancer Society (ACS), one of the largest voluntary health organization, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced that Takeda will support the projected expansion of the ACS’s Global Relay For Life (RFL) into an additional 20 countries by 2020. The RFL programme is a global grassroots movement that unites communities across the globe to come together and honour cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost and provide an opportunity to fight back through raising awareness, fundraising and advocating for policies that help save lives.

RFL is the largest grassroots fundraiser in the world and currently brings together cancer communities in more than 26 countries. Through this expansion, RFL expects to recruit and train new partners over the next five years to increase its presence to more than 46 countries and strengthen its support for cancer patients across the globe. In addition to aiding in the expansion of RFL, Takeda’s sponsorship also supplements support for regional and global summits for existing RFL partners.

“At the American Cancer Society we’re laser-focused on our goal of eliminating the pain and suffering caused by cancer. The expansion of the Global Relay For Life programne helps makes this possible in parts of the world facing an often staggering unequal burden of this disease,” said Sharon Byers, chief development officer for the American Cancer Society. “Anywhere you find a Relay For Life event, you also find cancer information, volunteer mobilization, and critical survivor support. These are necessary components for ending stigmas and saving lives. We’re proud to work with Takeda to develop this cancer-fighting infrastructure in 20 additional countries and counting.”   

“We are proud to support the American Cancer Society to help expand the Global Relay for Life programme and to raise public attention of cancer and the significant impact it has on patients, caregivers and communities across the globe,” said Christophe Bianchi, global oncology business unit president, Takeda. “At Takeda’s core is our unwavering commitment to patients. Through the support of this programme, and in collaboration with the American Cancer Society, we hope to enhance awareness of and access to cancer prevention, early detection and treatment, and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those impacted by cancer worldwide.”

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 14 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year and approximately eight million succumb to the disease. The burden of cancer is expected to grow significantly in the future, and will have a major impact on those in developing countries. To kick-off the global expansion initiative, training for a partner organization started in Uruguay, one of the newly added countries, in September 2016.

The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 2 million volunteers saving lives in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society's efforts have contributed to a 23 per cent decline in cancer death rates in the US since 1991, and a 50 per cent drop in smoking rates.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited is a global, research and development-driven pharmaceutical company committed to bringing better health and a brighter future to patients by translating science into life-changing medicines.