Published on January 13, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 13, 2009
MEDIA CONTACT:
Scott Truesdale
703-837-3692
scott.truesdale@preventcancer.org
Professional Poker Players Lee Childs and Eric “Rizen” Lynch Go “All-In” and Pledge 1% of Their Tournament Winnings in Support of Cancer Research, Education and Outreach
ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Prevent Cancer Foundation and Poker Players Internationalare proud to announce Lee Childs and Eric “Rizen” Lynch, two of the best tournament players in the world, have joined the Foundation’s Bad Beat on Cancer™ and pledged one percent of their winnings to fight the disease.
Bad Beat on Cancer was launched by professional poker players and Prevent Cancer Board members Phil Gordon and Rafe Furst at the 2003 World Series of Poker. Since its inception, it has raised over $2 million and grown to include other major poker tournaments, leagues and home games. The initiative has inspired amateurs and pros alike to pledge one percent of their winnings for life, including stars Phil Hellmuth, Jr., Paul Wasicka, Andy Bloch, Annie Duke, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, and Dennis Phillips, to name just a few.
“I’ve been blessed to be able to earn a living doing something I love,” Eric “Rizen” Lynchsaid. “I’m honored to think that this game I love can help stop the pain that cancer victims and their loved ones go through. I consider it a great privilege to take the 1% Pledge with the Prevent Cancer Foundation and hope that many others will join me and contribute to putting a ‘bad beat’ on cancer.”
For Lee Childs and his assistant Kelly Armentrout, their reasons for taking the Pledge were more personal. “Cancer took a significant toll on my family” explains Lee. “I’ve lost my mother, several beloved relatives, and have two cousins who are battling cancer today.” Kelly lost her own mother to cancer and battled the disease herself in 1997 and 1998. “Whether you’re a patient or a family member one thing is clear — no one should have to endure the pain and loss brought on by cancer” she says. “I’m pledging 1% of all my lifetime tournament winnings to the Prevent Cancer Foundation and urge fellow poker players to do the same.”
“We here at Poker Players International are honored to take the 1% Pledge as a company,” offers Randall Kasper, founder of PPI. “We’re equally honored to work with amazing individuals whose poker skills are matched only by their character.”
“We’re delighted Lee, Kelly and Eric have decided to go “all in” with the 1% Pledge,” comments Jan Bresch Mahrer, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Foundation. “Their support raises the stakes in our ongoing battle against cancer, specifically in raising awareness of risk reduction and early detection.” Phil Gordon went on to add that “This is a tremendous boost for the Bad Beat on Cancer, and we appreciate Lee, Kelly and Eric for their pledge, and Poker Players International, for promoting it to their players.”
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About Prevent Cancer Foundation
The Prevent Cancer Foundation (formerly the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation) was started in 1985. Today, it is one of the nation’s leading health organizations and has catapulted cancer prevention to prominence. Through healthy lifestyle choices, you can reduce your risk of breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, oral, prostate, skin and testicular cancers.
Since its inception the Foundation has provided more than $106 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education and community outreach programs. The Foundation’s peer-reviewed grants have been awarded to more than 300 scientists from more than 150 of the leading academic medical centers nationwide. This research has been pivotal in developing a body of knowledge that is the basis for important cancer prevention and early detection strategies. For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.
