Actor Rob Brown Rushes to Gain Ground Against Blood Cancer

Actor Rob Brown Rushes to Gain Ground Against Blood Cancer

Star of Upcoming Universal Pictures' Drama The Express Named National Spokesperson for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2008 Light The Night Walk

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Rob Brown, who stars in the upcoming drama The Express as Ernie Davis, a 1960s football hero who battled leukemia and became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, is the national spokesperson for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) 2008 Light The Night(R) Walk, an annual event that raises critical funds for research and patient services, and honors lives touched by blood cancer. The film is scheduled for release on Oct. 3, 2008.

Raised in poverty in Pennsylvania coal-mining country, Davis overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to become an unstoppable running back for the Syracuse University Orangemen. Following his draft to play for the Cleveland Browns, tragedy struck the athlete and he was never able to take the professional field. In 1963, Davis died of leukemia, but his legacy of smashing barriers on and off the playing field lives on.

"Ernie Davis's dreams were cut short by leukemia at the age of 23," said Brown. "Playing the role of Davis has helped me understand that all blood cancer patients deserve to live better, longer lives and that supporting research to help make cures happen is crucial."

As national spokesperson for the 2008 Walk, Brown has filmed a public service announcement and lent his image to brochures, posters and other publicity materials. Brown earned renown for his starring role in the 2000 film Finding Forrester. He will next appear in March's Stop Loss, a drama about young soldiers who return to Texas after fighting in Iraq.

"Rob Brown is an outstanding role model and a compassionate spokesperson for our cause," said Nancy Klein, senior vice president, LLS Marketing Communications. "His involvement with Light The Night and The Express will go a long way toward raising awareness about the urgency of finding cures and better treatments."

Light the Night Walk events are taking place in your community. For more information about Light The Night, please visit www.lightthenight.org.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society(R), headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 68 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, the LLS has invested more than $550 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, the LLS made 5.1 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

For more information about blood cancer, visit www.LLS.org or call the LLS Information Resource Center (IRC), a call center staffed by master's level social workers, nurses and health educators who provide information, support and resources to patients and their families and caregivers. IRC information specialists are available at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

    Contact: Andrea Greif    914-821-8958    andrea.greif@lls.org  

Source: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

CONTACT: Andrea Greif of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,
+1-914-821-8958

Web site: http://www.lls.org/
http:/// www.lightthenight.org

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Profile: International Entertainment