The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance, a sister organization to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, has launched a special project, I Vote for the Cure^TM, to educate voters and challenge the presidential candidates to make breast cancer a national priority.

I Vote for the Cure^TM is challenging candidates to address three achievable goals that will save lives and help end breast cancer forever:

1. ENERGIZE RESEARCH:  Increase investment in translational research, which is essential to ensuring that scientific discoveries made in the laboratory reach cancer patients as quickly as possible.

2. INCREASE SCREENING ACCESS:  Provide every low-income, uninsured, and underinsured woman in America access to early detection by fully funding the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection program by 2012.

3. ENSURE TREATMENT FOR ALL:  Ensure that all women diagnosed with breast cancer have access to high quality treatment.

One in eight American women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.  In 2008 alone, an estimated 40,930 women and men will die in the U.S. from breast cancer. 2.4 million breast cancer survivors and their families want breast cancer to be a priority.

We want elected officials to stand with us and do their part to end breast cancer forever.  More than 90 percent of voters want the federal government to pay more attention to breast cancer research, screening and early detection and access to quality care for all, according to a recent nationwide survey commissioned by the Komen Advocacy Alliance. A majority of voters (62 percent) believe breast cancer is the most critical health problem facing women today. Yet only 1 in 10 voters is aware of their preferred presidential candidate's position on issues relating to breast cancer.

For more information, visit www.IVotefortheCure.org.