From the Online Community to the White House, FCancer is Spreading the Word About Early Detection

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Just over three weeks ago, edgy new charity FCancer declared this month F-tember, and the response to the organization's call to action has been nothing short of astounding. Thousands of motivated supporters are now talking online and in person about the "C" word, including the White House. So, what's getting everyone all fired up? Interestingly enough, it's a statistic. Over 90% of all cancers are curable if detected in stage one, a fact that FCancer is shouting from the rooftops.

While so many important charities are focused on finding a cure, FCancer decided to take a different approach. FCancer is the first "Generation Y" initiated and social media-powered movement that aims to educate people on crucial early warning signs of cancer and inspire them to spread the word to loved ones who may be at risk. "The first step is really getting our generation to talk to our parents about cancer," says FCancer founder Yael Cohen. "Our research has shown that parents are much more likely to get that diagnostic test or stay on top of their risk profile if it comes from a child."

In a show of support for the movement, hundreds of FCancer friends and fans were rallied in a matter of days, and hit the streets of NYC to spread the charity's message on September 10th. Meanwhile, other fans of the movement have been showing their support online. Individuals have been "donating" their Facebook and Twitter status updates to the movement to help spread the word about early detection to their personal networks, with a new cancer fact featured each day. After just three weeks of getting the message out through social media channels, FCancer has seen a great deal of success with close to a thousand people opting in to "donate" their status updates on Facebook. With the average Facebook user having approximately 130 friends, the FCancer message is reaching over 118,000 people. With all of these collective voices shouting the importance of early detection in unison, FCancer's mission will be hard to ignore.

"By seeing [facts about cancer] on 10 friends' news feeds every day for a month, you're going to absorb some of it," Cohen says. "The app actually achieves one of our goals: spreading awareness about early detection."

In an incredibly short time, a few very significant voices have heard FCancer's message loud and clear. In July, FCancer was invited to the White House to participate in the Next Generation Leadership Conference, an all-hands-on-deck approach to developing collaborative responses to America's complex problems by convening a group of accomplished young leaders from across the country. And currently, FCancer founder Cohen is in New York participating in the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting, where the organization's "Commitment to Action" will be to Activate Generation Y around Early Cancer Detection.

FCancer was founded in 2009 by then 22 year old Yael Cohen after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. To support her mom, Cohen decided to use the "F word to fight the C word" and adorned this modern day proverb on a t-shirt. The movement has been embraced and the t-shirts worn proudly by celebrities, designers, philanthropists and supporters worldwide. A portion of the funds raised by FCancer will be used to fund early detection diagnostics in partnership with actress Fran Drescher's NGO, Cancer Schmancer.

SOURCE FCancer