19 January 2011
Sacramento,
CA - Today, Dr Ernie Bodai announced his
endorsement of the California Cancer Research Act (CCRA), an initiative that
dedicates more than $500 million to the creation of new ways to prevent,
detect, treat and cure cancer. It will fund anti-tobacco education efforts and
save thousands of California teenagers from deadly smoking habits
through a $1 excise tax on every pack of cigarettes.
Dr Bodai is the
founder of the Breast Cancer Research postage stamp
– the highest selling stamp
in the United States – having pursued a remarkable one-man lobbying effort to
convince Congress and the US Postal Service to introduce
the first ever stamp
in US history that sells at more than face value with
the surplus amount
donated directly to breast cancer research.
“Like the Breast Cancer stamp, the California
Cancer Research Act creates new funding for badly needed
research into
life-saving cures for cancer and other diseases.
Additionally, the measure invests in smoking
cessation education programs proven to prevent kids
from ever starting to smoke
and thereby saving lives.
I
wholeheartedly endorse the California Cancer Research
act because its needed,
it makes sense, and it will save lives,” said Dr. Bodai.
Despite advances
in treatment and prevention, nearly half of Californians
born today will
develop cancer at some point in their lives, and nearly
one in five will die
from it. The CCRA will save lives by putting crucial
research dollars into the
hands of California’s research community, many of whom are
winners of the Nobel Prize for medicine.
Dr Ernie Bodai and the Breast Cancer Research US postage
stamp
The endorsement of
the CCRA from a respected and energetic advocate for
cancer awareness joins
other high-profile supporters from California’s cancer research community, including the
American Cancer Society, American Lung Association,
and the American Heart
Association. Because of Dr. Bodai’s efforts, 13 countries have now issued their
own breast cancer stamps and another 60 are in the process of establishing such
stamps
Over 950 million
of Dr. Bodai’s stamps have been sold nationally, raising over $65 million for
crucial research. Dr. Bodai, a prostate cancer survivor,
currently serves as
Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of California, Davis and directs Kaiser Permanente’s Breast Health Center in Sacramento, recognized nationally as a “Center of Excellence.” In 2010, Dr. Bodai was nominated for the
Congressional Gold Medal, considered to be the highest
expression of national
appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions.
Its first
recipient was George Washington.
About the California Cancer Research Act:
The CCRA qualified
for California’s next statewide ballot after its
supporting coalition submitted over 600,000 voter signatures for verification
in June. The coalition is led by the American Cancer
Society, American Lung
Association, American Heart Association, Campaign for
Tobacco Free Kids, and
the Livestrong Foundation, with support from California’s former Senate President, Don Perata.
The California
Cancer Research Act will establish a nine-member oversight committee will award
all funds, including: three directors from California’s National Cancer
Institute designated cancer centers, three UC Chancellors
from the California
Institute for Quantitative Biological Research, one
practicing California
physician with expertise in cardiovascular disease
and two representatives of
disease advocacy organizations.
The California Cancer Research Act will invest 98 cents out of every dollar raised in
research, education and enforcement - with criminal penalties for any
misuse of funds. 60 percent of all funds
will go to prevention, causes and treatment of cancer and other smoking
related illnesses, 20 percent will fund
smoking cessation and tobacco use prevention, 15 percent will pay for facilities and equipment to support
research and 3 percent will help police
enforce anti-tobacco laws and stop tobacco smuggling. No more than 2 percent
will be spent on administrative costs.
