LEE NATIONAL DENIM DAY RAISES MILLIONS FOR BREAST CANCER IN A SINGLE DAY

MERRIAM, Kansas, October 2, 2009 — An estimated 800,000 people nationwide put on their jeans with Christina Applegate today to celebrate Lee National Denim Day, each donating at least $5 to help raise crucial funds for the fight against breast cancer. The event has been one of the largest single-day fundraisers for breast cancer, and today raised an estimated $4-$5 million for promising breast cancer research funded by the Women’s Cancer Programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), bringing the 14-year total to nearly $80 million.

Net proceeds from Lee National Denim Day will fund Lee Laboratories nationwide to find more effective, less toxic breast cancer treatments, develop a blood test for earlier detection of breast cancer when survival rates are highest, help the National Breast Cancer Coalition create online and print resources about breast cancer, and train additional advocates to educate patients and their families about new clinical trials.

Leading the effort was actress Christina Applegate, who also served as the program’s ambassador in 2003 in honor of her mother, a breast cancer survivor, and returned after being diagnosed with early stage breast cancer herself in 2008. Applegate shared her personal story to raise awareness and motivate others to participate in this simple, yet powerful fundraising event. As the lead ambassador, Applegate’s own foundation, Right Action for Women, will also receive a portion of funds raised this year to help high risk women get appropriately screened for breast cancer.

“It has been wonderful to return to Lee National Denim Day and I am so honored that a portion of this year’s proceeds will benefit Right Action for Women,” said Applegate. “I’ve created this foundation to help women at high risk for breast cancer get the advanced screenings and testing they need to beat this disease. By encouraging awareness and early detection, we will continue to make strides and save more lives.”