LOS ANGELES, Dec. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Farrah Fawcett Foundation, created by Ms. Fawcett in 2006 to provide funding for cutting-edge cancer research, support cancer prevention and awareness and to help those struggling with the disease, is embarking on a new, school-focused outreach effort.
Alana Stewart, CEO of the Farrah Fawcett Foundation, along with Dr. Ellis Reinherz from Dana Farber Cancer Institute, recently spoke at the Dana Hall School, an all-girl high school in Wellesley, MA, about human papillomavirus, or HPV, which causes nearly 26,000 cancers diagnoses annually. The Foundation's seminar is the first of an outreach effort that includes speaking engagements at schools and will be expanded to a multimedia presentation as part of the Foundation's awareness/prevention mission.
The Foundation is creating a video presentation aimed at educating age-appropriate children, their parents and school nurses about the virus and its link to cancer, the risks of transmission and the availability and safety of vaccines.
"HPV cancers are preventable, unlike most other cancers," said Stewart, "but it is extremely easy to contract HPV. It is the most common sexually transmitted virus."
Other ongoing educational outreach contains key information about HPV, including:
- The FDA-approved HPV vaccine is safe.
- The vaccine rate in the United States, compared to other advanced countries, is among the lowest.
- Boys have an increasing risk for contracting an HPV-related cancer.
- Single women over 40 may have the disease and not realize it. Testing is vital.
The Foundation joined with Stand Up to Cancer and has committed $1 million to fund The Farrah Fawcett/SU2C Translational Research Team dedicated to finding a cure for all HPV related cancers. The team is headed by renowned researchers Dr. Ellis Reinherz and Dr. Robert Haddad, at Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
The Foundation, also co-funded the International Anal Neoplasia Society at the University of San Francisco, which recently held a conference of 120 scientists involved in HPV research.
The Foundation is certified by the California Franchise Tax Board and Secretary of State to be in good standing with those agencies, and recently emerged from a correspondence audit by the California Attorney General that found no major violations. "We are so pleased that this matter is now officially closed and are very happy with the outcome," said Stewart.
SOURCE Farrah Fawcett Foundation
RELATED LINKShttp://www.thefarrahfawcettfoundation.org
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Original release via http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/farrah-fawcett-foundation-starts-new-chapter-of-hpv-awareness-300013748.html
The Mission of the Foundation;
Our mission is to provide funding for cutting edge
cancer research, prevention, and to help those struggling with cancer today.
Our emphasis is on anal and pediatric cancers. It is our compassion for those who suffer
from this insidious disease that fuels our deep commitment and fills our hearts.
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