Donning denims for breast cancer awareness

Proceeds will fund early detection and treatment research and community educational services for breast cancer patients and their families.

Cheering them on were 2007 Lee National Denim Day® ambassadors on behalf of EIF: actresses Mariska Hargitay, Gabrielle Union, and Kerry Washington; the cast members of NBC's "The Office" Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer and B.J. Novak; and country music and television star Billy Ray Cyrus.

Lee National Denim Day, which has now raised more than $70 million in the past 12 years, is one of the nation's largest single-day fundraisers for breast cancer. Hargitay and Cyrus attended a special ceremony at Lee Jeans headquarters where EIF President Lisa Paulsen accepted a cheque from Lee Jeans on behalf of campaign participants nationwide. Other special guests at the ceremony included Dr. Lee Hartwell, Director of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Nobel laureate and chair, EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund, and Fran Visco, president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund.

"The Entertainment Industry Foundation is proud to join Lee Jeans for what we believe is one of the most powerful grassroots fundraising events in the nation. Through this amazing fundraiser, we are proud to be funding leading research institutions nationwide to find better ways to detect breast cancer early and treat it with new and innovative treatment therapies," said Paulsen.

Net proceeds from Denim Day will help fund EIF's Breast Cancer Biomarker Discovery Project, led by Dr. Hartwell, to develop a blood test for earlier detection of breast cancer. Proceeds will also help establish the Lee Jeans Translational Laboratories for breast cancer treatment research and help fund grassroots education services through the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund.

"Lee National Denim Day is about camaraderie - millions of people coming together, symbolically wearing denim and making a small donation, that when combined, has a tremendous impact in the fight against breast cancer," said Liz Cahill, Director of Marketing and Communications at Lee Jeans. "It's thrilling to see the teamwork come to life on Denim Day when we announce the millions of funds raised."

Source: eMediaWire.com