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Rallying against cancer

Stephen Lewis urges students to take action.
September 27, 2011
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By Tom Peacock


Stephen Lewis is bringing his considerable skills as a speaker to Concordia on Wednesday, October 5, as part of the People vs. Cancer tour. But the gifted orator, known for his work combating the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa, will not be alone in his efforts to inspire the university community to join the fight against cancer.

Stephen Lewis
Stephen Lewis

Lewis will take the stage to participate in a panel discussion, which will include several speakers, and people are encouraged to ask questions. The Campaign To Control Cancer (C2CC), the group behind the People vs. Cancer tour, hopes students and staff will be motivated to lend their voice to the event and join the larger social movement aimed at reducing rates of the disease. 

“After the 2010 university tour with Stephen Lewis, students followed up” with concrete actions, says Pat Kelly, CEO of C2CC. “We are developing grants for campus-based campaigns targeting lifelong behaviours. There is new excitement building about cancer control and a willingness to step up to the challenges.”

Anthony Hunt, a student in accounting at the John Molson School of Business who has a parent fighting cancer, will open the discussion. Lewis will then speak about global transformations currently underway in public health. He will link these changes to the findings of the United Nations General Assembly on Non-Communicable Diseases, which were recently released.

Following Lewis’ address, Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, chair of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC), will speak about the system’s imperative to take control of preventable disease. He will argue that the fight against cancer is not just a health challenge, but a societal challenge as well.

“Many global health problems stem from economic, social, environmental, political and health care inequities,” says Dr. Sutcliffe. “Canada’s post-secondary institutions can help prepare the next generation of global leaders to solve complex health problems by building the capacity to cause change to happen.”

Concordia’s representative on the panel, Louise Dandurand, Vice-President Research and Graduate Studies, will also speak briefly before the question period begins.

When: Wednesday, October 5 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Where: Alumni Auditorium, Room H-110, Henry F. Hall Building (1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.)

Students are encouraged to send their questions for Stephen Lewis or any of the other panellists to C2CC, either through the controlcancer.ca website, or during the event via Twitter, using the hashtag #PvsC2011.

The audience will also be able to submit questions in writing or at a microphone during the question period. CBC Daybreak host Mike Finnerty will act as moderator. Those who can’t make it to the talk can stream it live from the People vs. Cancer website.

Related links:

•  The People vs. Cancer tour 
•  Campaign to Control Cancer
•  Concordia’s Health Services 
•  “Rally to Fight Cancer” – NOW, September 21, 2011
 



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