CVS is encouraging everyone to fight against cancer.
The drugstore and pharmacy, which operates a location in Clinton, is partnering with the Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). It began Oct. 29 and will continue through Thursday, Nov. 19. Customers can donate, $1, $3 or more to SU2C when they checkout. All proceeds will benefit patients.
Eileen Howard Boone, CVS senior vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for CVS Health, discussed the benefits of support, which helps individuals such as Phineas Sandi, a Raleigh native who was diagnosed with leukemia.
“Just about everyone knows someone battling cancer and it affects our customers, colleagues, and communities every day,” Boone said in a statement to The Sampson Independent. “It is especially heartbreaking to hear of stories of young patients diagnosed with cancer such as Phineas, but we are confident that through Stand Up to Cancer’s innovative research and clinical trials, we are getting closer to making major advancements in the fight against cancer.”
Officials also noted that the leukemia disease is 84 percent curable, but Sandi suffered from the initial treatment and suffered life threatening side effects. His family found alternative treatment options and was successful. The treatments involved the transfusion of genetically engineered T cells and a bone-marrow transplant. He’s now cancer free and is now 9.
Boone said customers want an easy way to support important causes like cancer research — a reason CVS supports SU2C. One of the developments included immunotherapy CAR T therapy, which was recently recommended for FDA approval for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the same type of cancer Phineas was diagnosed with in 2012.
“As a purpose-driven company dedicated to helping people on their path to better health, we’re proud to support Stand Up To Cancer as they accelerate groundbreaking research to help save more lives,” Boone said. “We will continue to do what we can to support organizations like Stand Up to Cancer that are dedicated to the fight against this deadly disease.”
CVS is located at 507 College St., Clinton. For more information about the campaign, visit www.StandUpToCancer.org/CVSHealth.