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 27 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.
In July, we are kicking off the second year of Chai for Cancer USA, a fundraising campaign that expands access to treatment for people facing cancer in India. For 6 weeks, South Asia Region Head Viji Venkatesh will travel across the country to meet with our friends and supporters, bringing together our community in support….
Join us this summer in Malaysia! In July 2017, a team of partners, cancer survivors, and friends like you will join us from the USA, Malaysia, and beyond to embark on an adventure with a common goal: raising funds to carry out our work supporting cancer patients in Malaysia.
Nothing is more powerful than storytelling, especially when it’s told from a person’s first-hand experience.
In the Asia Pacific region, we are often known as “shy” community. We do not often share our stories publicly, especially a story about cancer diagnosis. We often have no one to turn to because we do not want our parents to worry; we do not want our children to feel the burden; we do not want to tell our neighbors who might be starting to avoid us because we are diagnosed with cancer.
