Trio Joins Bristol-Myers Squibb to Inspire People to Show How They Harness Their Unique Inner Power in the Fight Against Cancer
New Pic Your Power Challenge Helps Raise Funds for Thirty-Five Participating Cancer Advocacy Groups
Dak Prescott, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, Eric Stonestreet, star
of television’s hit comedy “Modern Family,” and Tia Mowry of YouTube’s
“Tia Mowry’s Quick Fix” are teaming up with Bristol-Myers
Squibb to launch the
Ready. Raise. Rise.
Pic Your
Power challenge, which recognizes the inner strength of individuals
touched by cancer. The new challenge encourages people to share how they
uniquely rise up against the disease as a way to increase awareness of
Immuno-Oncology (I-O) research, including the emerging area of
biomarkers.
Prescott, Stonestreet and Mowry, who have all been affected by cancer,
know that facing the disease takes enormous personal strength – and that
each person’s inspiration is unique to them. That’s why, as part of the
Pic Your Power
challenge, the quarterback, actor and
actress have joined forces to invite the community to share photos that
show how they harness their unique inner power to rise up against cancer.
“Before a big game, I mentally prepare by thinking of my mother’s
courage as she fought cancer. Channeling her strength helps me find my
inner power to face whatever happens next,” said Prescott. “Now, I’m
asking the community to join the Pic Your Power challenge – show me how
you find your own inner power to stand against this disease.”
Anyone can participate in the Pic Your Power challenge by visiting ReadyRaiseRise.com
and sharing a photo holding a sign that says “#ReadyRaiseRise.” A total
of 100 photo submissions will result in a donation of $250,000 to
participating advocacy groups to support their efforts on behalf of
people impacted by cancer. To date, Bristol-Myers Squibb has donated
more than $450,000 to patient groups through the
Ready. Raise.
Rise.
program.
“I know firsthand that rising up against cancer takes a special type of
spirit,” said Stonestreet. “When my mom was battling this terrible
disease, we spent time outside together with my dog, Roscoe, to recharge
and refuel our fight. You can inspire others to do the same by showing
how you find your personal strength in the face of cancer.”
People who visit ReadyRaiseRise.com
will also have the opportunity to learn more about Immuno-Oncology
research, which seeks to harness the power of the body’s own immune
system to help fight cancer. An important new area of Immuno-Oncology
research is exploring biomarkers – individual characteristics of each
person’s cancer. Understanding a tumor’s unique make-up through
biomarkers may help researchers better address the disease.
“Knowledge is power in the fight against cancer. Through
Ready.
Raise. Rise.
, we strive to bring together the cancer community
to learn about the latest developments in Immuno-Oncology research,
including the role of biomarkers,” said Adam Lenkowsky, head, U.S.
Oncology, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “This year’s Pic Your Power
challenge
builds on the previous three years of the
Ready. Raise. Rise.
program to make participation even more personally fulfilling, giving
people affected by cancer a new way to feel empowered and to inspire one
another.”
To join Prescott, Stonestreet and Mowry in the challenge and for more
information, visit ReadyRaiseRise.com.
About Ready. Raise. Rise.
Ready. Raise. Rise.
is a Bristol-Myers Squibb campaign to
raise awareness of Immuno-Oncology, a rapidly evolving area of cancer
research.
Ready. Raise. Rise.
aims to bring people
together to participate in the fight against cancer by highlighting each
individual’s personal strength, celebrating and honoring loved ones
touched by the disease and supporting cancer advocacy programs.
Thirty-five cancer advocacy groups participate in
Ready. Raise.
Rise.,
and the Bristol-Myers Squibb donation will be
shared amongst them.
Visit ReadyRaiseRise.com
for more information on the Pic Your Power challenge and to take
socially-driven actions, like raising and sharing a virtual flag on
behalf of a loved one, sending a message of support and spreading the
word about Immuno-Oncology research.
Immuno-Oncology at Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is leading research in an innovative field of
cancer research known as Immuno-Oncology, which seeks to work directly
with the body’s immune system to fight cancer. The company is exploring
a variety of approaches for patients with different types of cancer,
including researching the potential of combination I-O approaches that
target different pathways in the treatment of cancer. Bristol-Myers
Squibb is also investigating the role of Immuno-Oncology biomarkers to
help better understand the disease and patients’ responses to therapies.
Bristol-Myers Squibb is committed to advancing the science of
Immuno-Oncology, with the ultimate goal of changing survival
expectations and the way patients live with cancer.
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission
is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help
patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about
Bristol-Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com
or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter,
YouTube
and Facebook.
Media:Bristol-Myers SquibbLaurel Sacks, 609-302-5456 Laurel.Sacks@bms.com