John Wayne Cancer Foundation + John Wayne Stock & Supply Join Forces with Project Angel Food to Feed L.A. Cancer Patients During Pandemic.

Never on to back down from a fight for what’s right, John Wayne battled cancer twice – and made sure that his kids knew he wanted them to continue the battle, in his name. They’ve done just that at the John Wayne Cancer Foundation since 1985.

Now, the John Wayne Cancer Foundation team is saddling up and joining forces with Project Angel Food to fight on a new front – ensuring that cancer patients in Los Angeles continue to receive much-needed free meal deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

John Wayne Stock & Supply, an online store that sells branded John Wayne merchandise, is now offering a special t-shirt to support this effort, with 50% of proceeds going to Project Angel Food (25% of the PAF’s clients are cancer patients). The “Quote Tee” is a unisex style and is available in black or white with one of John Wayne’s most famous and inspiring quotes — “Give the American people a good cause and there’s nothing they can’t lick.” — emblazoned on it.

“My dad would be proud of this campaign, as he was always a champion for cancer patients and those who needed help most,” said Ethan Wayne, John Wayne’s son and Chairman of the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. “Our tea, in partnership with John Wayne Stock & Supply and Project Angel Food, is ready to ride into this battle and fight for some of the people who are most vulnerable in the COVID-19 pandemic.”

It’s estimated that roughly 1.8 million people are diagnosed with cancer in the United States annually. Some forms of cancer can be prevented! While what is known about cancer prevention is still evolving, it’s fairly well-accepted that our chances of developing cancer are affected by the lifestyle choices we make.

So if you’re interested in preventing cancer for you and your family, take comfort in the fact that simple lifestyle changes can make a difference.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer, with 1 in 5 Americans diagnosed annually. The good news is that it’s highly preventable. Sun damage is cumulative, so the sooner youth learn this life-saving information the better. In fact, preventing this common form of cancer happens to be one of John Wayne Cancer Foundation’s flagship programs.

Through our Block The Blaze program, we educate youth about the 5 Sun Safe Tips to decrease their risk of developing skin cancer while providing them with the tools to implement sun safety immediately. Along with prevention, youth learn the ABCDE’s of melanoma and are encouraged to go on Mole Patrol (self-screening) once a month.
Take a look at our 5 suns safe tips, helpful for all ages:

Apply Sunscreen.
Put on a hat.
Wear sunglasses.
Wear protective clothing.
Seek shade.

Education is key to prevention, and Block The Blaze is leading the charge for youth! If skin cancer is the diagnosis, John Wayne Cancer Foundation seeks to help with healing through research. JWCF provides grants to further research treatment.

In fact, Dr. Mark Faries, an JWCI Alumni Fellow, is a recent grant recipient for his proposal: Evaluation of Lymph Nodes as Immune Sentinels in Melanoma. “This support from the Foundation for our study on the earliest interactions between melanoma and the immune system will open new avenues for progress and treatment,” says Dr. Faries, “We’re extremely grateful for that support and the Foundation’s tireless efforts to support awareness, prevention and treatment of this difficult disease.”

No child or their parents should have to face skin cancer diagnosis. The good news is that donors like you are making a tangible difference in the lives of our youth and their families. Together we can help younger generations to block the blaze and protect themselves from skin cancer.

Schools might have gone virtual for most of 2020, however select junior lifeguard programs and camps were given the green light to have socially distanced programming throughout the state, and we are grateful for the out-of-state programs who presented on our behalf. Although some programs were smaller and looked different this year, over 9,000 youth were provided with Block the Blaze education, water resistance natural mineral sunsticks and Block the Blaze trucker hats. It’s important that Block the Blaze not only teaches sun safety, but provides the tools to implement sun safety immediately. Now that summer is wrapping up and schools are starting, Block the Blaze will pivot to virtual classroom presentations.

My name is Derek Givens and I am a Cancer Survivor of Malignant Melanoma. In 1998, I was diagnosed with an extremely poor prognosis two years after I got married. With my whole life ahead of me, I had no idea where to turn. I was scared, but I knew I wanted to fight this disease. I eventually found the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica. Dr. Morton was just starting a cutting edge therapy for people like me and developed taking actual melanoma cells and splicing them and injecting them back into cancer to fight it. After pretty invasive surgery, I have been over ten years clean. The foundation was strong then, and stronger now constantly searching for better ways to combat this horrendous killer. I am so happy and grateful for what the foundation has done not only for me but for others who are searching for help. I am now cancer-free, still married to the love of my life with two amazing children. I take the “Block The Blaze” cause very seriously and do my best to spread awareness of how dangerous the sun can be. Wear Sunscreen, and reapply. Be active, Be healthy, and spread the word.

Thank You,
Derek Givens

Bring your John Wayne Grit to the trails and #RunToFightCancer with us on May 16th in the John Wayne Grit Series Pioneertown Half Marathon & 10K. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was built in the 40s to be an 1880s.Bring your John Wayne Grit to the trails and #RunToFightCancer with us on May 16th in the John Wayne Grit Series Pioneertown Half Marathon & 10K. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was built in the 40s to be an 1880s

Bring your John Wayne Grit to the trails and #RunToFightCancer with us on May 16th in the John Wayne Grit Series Pioneertown Half Marathon & 10K. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was built in the 40s to be an 1880s. Bring your John Wayne Grit to the trails and #RunToFightCancer with us on May 16th in the John Wayne Grit Series Pioneertown Half Marathon & 10K. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was built in the 40s to be an 1880s Bring your John Wayne Grit to the trails and #RunToFightCancer with us on May 16th in the John Wayne Grit Series Pioneertown Half Marathon & 10K. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, Pioneertown was built in the 40s to be an 1880s

We’re pleased to announce that as of this fall, the Block the Blaze program has reached over 500,000 young people! Despite the challenges this year has brought on due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve been able to continue sun safety education through webinars, collaborative lesson planning with schools, and presentations on the beach throughout the past summer!

Block the Blaze is a John Wayne Cancer Foundation (JWCF) funded youth skin cancer education program. Block the Blaze knows it unrealistic to ask youth to avoid the sun, in fact, Block the Blaze encourages youth to be outdoors, active and healthy, we just teach them how to do so safely!

Skin cancer is the most common cancer with 1 in 5 Americans being diagnosed in their lifetime. Having just one blistering sunburn in adolescent years doubles the risk of developing melanoma. We educate youth on the importance of sun safety through the 5 sun-safe tips and self-screening with the ABCDEs of melanoma. Block the Blaze would like to extend our sincere appreciation for program participants and partners, including the California Surf Lifesaving Association, the United States Lifesaving Association, TropicSport, teachers, staff and interns.

With grit and gratitude,
Ethan Wayne
Chairman, John Wayne Cancer Foundation