The Ready. Raise. Rise. campaign encourages everyone to raise and share a flag to salute those who have been touched by cancer, especially patients and caregivers, and learn more about a rapidly evolving area of research, Immuno-Oncology, which seeks to harness the body's own immune system to fight cancer. For the campaign’s second year, Eric Stonestreet of television's hit comedy "Modern Family" and films "Confirmation" and "The Secret Life of Pets" is joined by his mother Jamey, who faced and survived cancer twice. Bristol-Myers Squibb sponsors the campaign, which inspired people to raise more than 50,000 flags last year, and this year will make charitable donations to 23 participating cancer support groups on behalf of flag raisers.
"My mom has survived cancer twice, so I have personal reasons for standing with Ready. Raise. Rise. again this year - It gives me a chance to say how much I admire heroes like her, and at the same time it allows me to learn about promising research in the fight against cancer, like Immuno-Oncology. And participating in the campaign also supports cancer advocacy groups that are helping others like my mom," said Eric Stonestreet. "So mom and I are asking you to be Ready to Raise a virtual flag and Rise in celebration of patients, caregivers and anyone else you know whose life is touched by cancer."
With more than 32 million people living with cancer worldwide, nearly every family is impacted by cancer. Stonestreet is asking people to go to ReadyRaiseRise.com to create and share a flag in honor of someone who has been affected by cancer - whether it be themselves, a loved one or a caregiver. Each person who raises a flag can select one of 23 cancer advocacy organizations they wish to support and share their flag on social media using the hashtag #RaiseYourFlag. For each flag raised and shared, the selected organization will receive a charitable donation from Bristol-Myers Squibb. The company will distribute up to a total of $150,000 in charitable donations across participating organizations. Both Stonestreet and his mother are featured in a public service announcement to further extend the reach of the educational information about Immuno-Oncology research.
"Immuno-Oncology is an innovative area of research that may be changing the way we approach cancer," said Sanjiv Agarwala, MD, chief of medical oncology and hematology at St. Luke's Cancer Center in Bethlehem, PA, and professor of medicine at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. "I'm passionate about educating the cancer community about Immuno-Oncology research as it explores a different way to approach cancer treatment, and that may allow patients with advanced cancer the potential to lead longer lives."
"Ready. Raise. Rise. continues to resonate with the cancer community, further motivating us to relentlessly pursue Immuno-Oncology research and make a difference for patients," said Teresa Bitetti, senior vice president, U.S. Oncology, Bristol-Myers Squibb. "Our ultimate goal with Immuno-Oncology is to improve survival and quality of life for patients living with various types of cancer, and this program provides an inspiring platform to honor patients and caregivers in a meaningful way."
Immuno-Oncology at Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is leading research in an innovative field of cancer research and treatment known as Immuno-Oncology, which involves agents whose primary mechanism is to work directly with the body’s immune system to fight cancer. The company is exploring a variety of compounds and immunotherapeutic approaches for patients with different types of cancer, including researching the potential of combining Immuno-Oncology agents that target different pathways in the treatment of cancer.
Bristol-Myers Squibb is committed to advancing the science of Immuno-Oncology, with the goal of changing survival expectations and the way patients live with cancer.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.