Walgreens and American Cancer Society Launch Hope Blooms With You Program to Fight Breast Cancer

American Cancer Society
Friday, 1 June 2001

Walgreens, one of the nation's leading retail pharmacy chains, and the American Cancer Society today announced the launch of Hope Blooms With You, a program to raise awareness and funding for breast cancer research and educational programs. The program will be conducted in all 2,450 Walgreens stores nationwide throughout May.

"This year, more than 178,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. More than 43,000 women will die of the disease," said John R. Seffrin, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of the American Cancer Society. "Those statistics are unacceptable, and we have recently observed two strong and encouraging trends that give us hope for saving many lives from this killer. Death rates from breast cancer have finally begun a sustained decline for the first time in history, and now the rate of new breast cancer cases is also showing a downturn. This exciting news means that our research into new treatments, and our public education efforts are finally beginning to show results. We can accelerate these trends if we intensify our efforts. That is why we are so excited about Walgreens' commitment to the Hope Blooms With You program."

Throughout May, Walgreens customers will be able to join the fight against breast cancer by buying Hope Blooms With You paper blossoms for $1. The blooms will be displayed in the Walgreens stores, with the donor's name, signifying his or her personal commitment to bringing about the end of breast cancer. The funds will go toward the American Cancer Society's local programs and nationwide research into breast cancer.

During the month of May, Walgreens' circular, which is sent to 35 million homes every week, will include information about the program, and a coupon redeemable by mail for two free issues of the American Cancer Society's Breast Cancer Network Newsletter -- The Update. The newsletter now reaches hundreds of thousands of women four time per year, with up-to-date news about progress in breast cancer research, advice on a healthy lifestyle and early cancer detection methods, lifesaving educational articles, and notices about ways to make your voice heard in the nationwide call for intensified attention to the breast cancer issue.

"We're making it a priority to spread the word about breast cancer during the month of May," said Laurie L. Meyer, Walgreens' director of corporate communications. "With 2.4 million customers coming into our stores each day, we can significantly contribute to American Cancer Society research and program funding and raise public awareness through the Hope Blooms With You program."

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide volunteer health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health concern through research, education, service and advocacy.

Walgreen Company is one of the leading drugstore chains in the country, with 1997 sales of $13.4 billion. The company operates 2,450 stores in 34 states and Puerto Rico.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org