Each year I am humbled by the extraordinary work and dedication of our 68 Max Global Network partners, hailing from over 50 countries around the world, that tirelessly dedicate their time and resources to improving the lives of people living with cancer worldwide. I would like to take moment to acknowledge just a few of their achievements in 2015 and congratulate them on their continued efforts to ensure that the needs of people in their communities who are impacted by a cancer diagnosis are heard.
Here are just a few of the highlights from 2015:
This year, over 50 Maximize Life Global Cancer Awareness events took place throughout Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. In total, 42 partner organizations hosted events in their local communities that provided cancer survivors and caregivers a platform to share their stories of confronting and overcoming the fear and pain of a cancer diagnosis.
72 brave individuals shared their personal stories of facing cancer by submitting their stories in writing to the 2015 Maximize Life Essay Contest. We were overwhelmed by the quality and power of each essay! A panel of judges selected a winner for each language (English, Spanish and French), and the winners selected a Max Global Network partner to award US$500 in addition to a personal award of US$300. Read the essays and be inspired!
Over 25 Max Global Network partners participated in the My PCR initiative, “Treat Your Physician on World CML Day.” Partners visited physicians at their local clinics to deliver tasty PCR-themed treats and World CML Day posters. Partners thanked these physicians for their support and spread the word about the importance of PCR in the monitoring of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). If your organization works with CML patients and you are not already a partner of My PCR, we encourage you to visit the My PCR website for more information!
The Max Foundation is excited to embark on a new year of initiatives and growth with our Network partners, and we look forward to collectively working to improve the lives of people living with cancer worldwide. Keep up the good work!
The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For 28 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope.
This year, like past years, 16 patient support groups in Africa and Middle East have joined the Maximize Life Campaign with enthusiasm and excitement. All the groups in Africa welcome back our friends from Sierra Leone who inspired us all with their resilience in the face of the Ebola epidemic that touched their country.
I cannot imagine how hard it must have been to raise a family of six with a minimum educational background, as a sole provider for the family. I have the privilege of working with so many patients in Cambodia, I get to hear different story, life experiences. Every story is unique. Every day, I am….
Un Paso Max, meaning “Un Paso Mas” (One More Step) is a fitting name for a group led by cancer survivors who are willing to take an extra step to help others. Un Paso Max is the name of the CML and GIST patient association in the Dominican Republic. One can trace the origins of this group to a small meeting in 2008. It only took a bit of encouragement and support on the part of The Max Foundation to unlock the passion of a handful of courageous survivors in Santo Domingo, and the seed of a patient association was planted.
