Amanda Marcotte is helping coordinate the internet presence of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The LAF, famous for their LiveStrong campaign that saw 40 million Americans don yellow wristbands, is annoucing that tomorrow, May 16, is LiveStrong Day. Lance and his supporters will be lobbying Congress for greater support for cancer survivors and their families.
The biggest priority of the LAF, I am happy to say, is expanding access to health care for millions of uninsured Americans. The Lance Arrmstrong Foundation is also eager to expand early screening, taking note that cancer deaths could be reduced by at least a third with early detection. And of course, the LAF wants to fund more research.
As a rule, my wife and I only support medical charities that receive the Humane Seal of approval, meaning that their research does not involve any use of animal subjects. Next to our own Matilde Mission, there is no charity nearer and dearer to our hearts than the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. They created the Humane Seal program.
The Lance Armstrong Foundation, I am sorry to say, still funds research that uses animal subjects. Yet I am happy to say that the LAF has a history of funding many of the projects of the PCRM. PCRM is eager to extoll the cancer-fighting benefits of a vegan diet; in recent years, their vegan nutrition classes have received direct support from the LAF. I am delighted that that support seems likely to continue.
Where the Lance Armstrong Foundation calls for early detection programs, for better support for those living with cancer, for immediate attention to the plight of the uninsured, I stand with them in full support. Where the LAF funds research on animal subjects, I withdraw that support. My adored father died of cancer last year, I held him in my arms on the day he passed. But if anything, his death only strengthened my opposition to animal research and testing. Even if it would have extended my Dad’s life, I remain steadfastly opposed to all forms of vivisection. I blogged that story here.
If you are considering donating to the LAF, please include a note with your donation asking that your money not be used for research programs except for those where animal subjects are never used. Lance Armstrong is a symbol of vibrant good health and radical commitment to personal transformation; I have long been in awe of his drive and his dedication. The LAF’s past support for PCRM programs is encouraging, and I don’t think it’s out of the question that the LAF could choose to fund research using non-animal subjects (a field growing by leaps and bounds). Your support for that shift may well help.
Whatever your views on animal testing, let’s applaud the commitment of the Lance Armstrong Foundation to helping people fight cancer and lead healthier, longer, happier lives. Let’s Live Strong indeed, and let’s Live Cruelty-Free to boot.
Thanks for the support!
Hugo–do you have a reference from a reasonably reliable source (NOT PCRM) on how medical research using no non-human animals can be done and it’s safety (for humans) relative to current standards? I’d like to learn more about that possibility (I’m inherently skeptical, but convinceable.)
Sam,
The E.U. is leaps and bounds ahead of the U.S. in terms of actively seeking alternatives to animal tests, validating these altneratives and then requiring their use (rather than allowing scientists to continue using animals).
The European Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) has a website detailing the progress they’ve made so far: http://ecvam.jrc.it/index.htm I hope that helps answer some of your questions.
Have you spoken with anyone at LAF to be sure that your money isn’t really supporting a grant for animal research? I would like to support the foundation, but am a bit skeptical that they will hold certain donations for non-animal based research.
Thanks.