By Melissa Weber

Ben Stiller joined Lance Armstrong at the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s (LAF’s) 2004 Live to Ride Gala in April. Stiller emceed the event that included presentation of the Carpe Diem awards to cancer survivors and advocates Alisa Gilbert, Susan Rafte and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A live auction boasted such items as singing backup for Sheryl Crow, dinner with Armstrong and actor Robin Williams and a role as an extra in Stiller’s upcoming film Meet the Faulkers. In addition, Armstrong announced the Live Strong Wear Yellow campaign. Nike donated $1 million and is helping LAF (www.laf.org) raise an additional $5 million through the production and sale of five million Live Strong yellow wristbands. For more, go to www.wearyellow.com.

President George Bush says it has “kind of become the brand name for saving lives.” At a White House gathering to kick off the National Race for the Cure, Bush congratulated the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (www.komen.org) on their investment of nearly $500 million in the fight against breast cancer. But he also told the crowd of cancer survivors and their families about his own plans. “This government is committed to helping find a cure for breast cancer—and it must be. The Department of Health and Human Services is spending $900 million on breast cancer research and preventative activities. My budget has proposed an increase for next year as well. The budget includes $220 million for an early detection program, promotes mammography use and helps low-income women afford screenings for breast cancer and cervical cancer. It also includes $768 million to aid breast cancer researchers at the National Institutes of Health.”

New Jersey Devils coach Pat Burns is currently completing treatment for colon cancer. The three-time National Hockey League coach of the year, who led the Devils to a Stanley Cup title last season, announced his diagnosis at a press conference in April. “For those who know me well, I’ve never backed down from any fight. And I’m not going to back down from this one.”

Not everyone would camp out for 72 hours on the roof of the local Wal-Mart to raise money for cancer, but that’s just what Rick Gore did in his hometown of St. Augustine, Florida. People made donations into a decorated 5-gallon bucket Gore lowered from the rooftop, and he ended up raising $7,500 for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. As chairman of his local Relay, he says that, although he isn’t a survivor himself, when it comes to raising money for cancer, “I’ll do just about anything as long as I don’t get arrested or hurt.”

Breast cancer survivor Lena Howard set the American Powerlifting Federation’s world record for her age group by lifting 90 pounds at their March event. But this Detroit native isn’t nearly done yet. She plans to compete again in September with plans to lift 110 pounds. Did I mention she’s 74 years old?