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Prevent Cancer Foundation History

Celebrating where we’ve been. Committed to where we’re going.

In 1985, compelled by the memory of her late father, Edward Perry Richardson, Carolyn “Bo” Aldigé embarked on a mission. She founded the Prevent Cancer Foundation®, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, with the hope of sparing others from the pain and suffering caused by cancer.

“Everyone was focused on the ‘magic bullet’ and everyone was focused on finding something that was going to cure cancer. And that’s what people thought was going to be the solution—a cure. Prevention was not the mainstream,” Aldigé has said.

The cancer landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, with a bigger chorus of voices championing the benefits of cancer prevention and early detection. The Prevent Cancer Foundation has been beating the drum on this message since 1985, and remains at the forefront of cancer prevention and early detection.

The Foundation is committed to empowering people to stay ahead of cancer through prevention and early detection. Join us: sign up and stay in touch as we write our next chapter, together.

**2024:** The Prevent Cancer Foundation celebrates the presidential proclamation declaring April 2024 as the first-ever National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month. The Foundation led 84 organizations in successfully advocating for this designation.

An illustrated banner that has a large crowd of people all several races and ethnicities shown from the head up. There is a dark screen overlay with text over it that reads, "500+ organizations unite in support of the Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act." — **2021:** The Foundation begins advocating for the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act of 2021, legislation that could remove barriers to innovative multi-cancer tests. More than 300 organizations sign on to support the Act.

A black and white photo from the Awesome Games Done Quick event ballroom. There is a man standing in front, holding a microphone and appears to be speaking excitedly. There are dozens are people behind them celebrating and clapping. — **2020:** Awesome Games Done Quick sets a new record, raising $3.1 million at its 10th annual gaming marathon in support of the Foundation.

A woman is seated on a toilet in a restroom stall. You can only see her legs and her pants are pulled down around her ankles. She is wearing hightop sneakers. There is "graffiti" on the tiled wall next her that reads, "Too Young for This Sh*t!" — **2019:** Don’t be fooled–you’re not Too Young for This Sh*t. The Foundation raises awareness of rising colorectal cancer rates in adults under 50.

Portrait of Jasjit Ahluwalia, an Indian man wearing a turban and standing in a hospital. He has a graying beard, wearing glasses and is grinning. He is wearing a suit and holding a large stack of papers. — **2011:** The Foundation reaches $130 million invested in research, education, outreach and advocacy.

**2000:** The Foundation holds the Millennium Lung Cancer Workshop (now Quantitative Imaging Workshop) to jump-start early lung cancer detection. The Workshop leads to a clinical trial that establishes lung cancer screening as a new standard of care for eligible adults.

**1996:** If you can’t get to a screening, the screening will come to you! The Foundation funds “the Mammovan,” the Washington region’s first and only mobile mammography unit. It makes its first appearance this year.

**1994:** ¡Celebremos la Vida! (Let’s Celebrate Life!) takes off this year. This breast and cervical cancer education and screening program supports medically underserved Hispanic/Latina women.

Congressional members and spouses at a Prevent Cancer Foundation Congressional Families Program event. — Un groupe de membres, de conjoints et d’invités au déjeuner de remise des prix Action for Cancer Awareness 2023.

**1985:** Carolyn Aldigé founds the Prevent Cancer Foundation® in memory of her father, Edward Perry Richardson, who died of cancer in 1984.

Carolyn “Bo” Aldigé tells the story of how–and why–she founded the Prevent Cancer Foundation in 1985, and why the organization is still so needed today.