Wrap Up Africa Advances Mission through UICC World Cancer Congress, LIVESTRONG and CGI Support

NEW YORK, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Letha Sandison, the founder and CEO of Wrap Up Africa, joins the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting immediately following her presentation at the UICC World Cancer Congress in Shenzhen, China. Sandison attended the Congress hosted by LIVESTRONG, which has thrown its weight behind WUA to support its innovative market-based approach to alleviating the effects of cancer on African families and drawing attention to the impact of cancer in the developing world.

Based in Kampala, Uganda, Wrap Up Africa helps cancer patients and their families earn funds for treatment and expenses. Most of the patients are children with Burkitt's Lymphoma, which has a 90 percent survival rate when treatment is available. The organization trains participants as tailors, making skirts and dresses that are then sold by WUA through their website www.wrapupafrica.com and a small number of specialty stores in the U.S. The tailors earn a fair wage to pay for medical expenses as well as related needs. WUA's profits are then used to provide clinical and educational programs for patients and their families. Sandison's work started as a local effort, but has quickly become a model for those fighting cancer in the developing world. She is a passionate advocate for cancer care and is actively at work to create new markets, spread the WUA model to other countries, and identify new funding streams for these efforts.

2010 is LIVESTRONG's second year sponsoring Sandison and WUA, as she also presented at the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland in 2009 at their invitation. Sandison's participation in the 2009 Summit opened doors for WUA and led the way to important support and collaborations. Among these is a relationship with the Middle East Cancer Consortium, an organization that faces similar challenges, with whom WUA has been able to share best practices and strategies. At this summer's World Cancer Congress, Sandison presented on the work of Wrap Up Africa and the importance of global collaboration in the fight against cancer. Sandison also participated in the World Cancer Leaders Summit, which gave her the opportunity to experience policy discussions among the heads of the major cancer organizations. This meeting left Sandison energized because, as she puts it, "finally, the right people are talking about cancer in the developing world."

Sandison's experience enabled her to develop relationships with other cancer organizations and to lay the groundwork for the formation of an African Cancer Society (AFRICaN). This umbrella organization will allow smaller groups to share resources and information, and to establish national cancer registries. Sandison was also able to make progress on the goal to expand WUA to Ethiopia, by initiating relationships with U.S. hospitals and institutions to create training programs in pediatric oncology for African doctors and nurses. WUA's next steps include an effort to increase funding to make these projects possible and to add five physicians to their staff in order to broaden their work.

Inspired by the China Congress, Sandison participates in the CGI Annual Meeting and make progress on Wrap Up Africa's goals: raising awareness of cancer needs in Africa, collaborating with colleagues and organizations, increasing support for the organization, expanding markets for their clothing, and identifying further sources of funding. "With strong collaborations, more outlets through which to sell our tailors' creative work, and greater funding," Sandison affirms, "Wrap Up Africa will be well-positioned to have an immediate impact on cancer in Africa."

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 125 current and former heads of state, 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,900 commitments valued at $63 billion, which have already improved the lives of nearly 300 million people in more than 170 countries. The CGI community also includes CGI University (CGI U), a forum to engage college students in global citizenship, MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make a Commitment to Action, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young leaders from business, government, and civil society. For more information, visit http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org .

About LIVESTRONG

Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong and based in Austin, Texas, LIVESTRONG fights for the 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. LIVESTRONG connects individuals to the support they need, leverages funding and resources to spur innovation and engages communities and leaders to drive social change. Known for the iconic yellow wristband, LIVESTRONG's mission is to inspire and empower anyone affected by cancer. For more information, visit www.LIVESTRONG.org.

SOURCE Wrap Up Africa