Despite some wishful reports, breast cancer is on the rise worldwide. In the United States alone, as the baby boomer generation ages, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) predicts that 480,000 women will have been diagnosed with invasive breast cancers by 2017. While similar statistics are not available internationally, there is every reason to believe that such dramatic increases will be global.

The Breast Cancer Research Stamp was issued in 1998 at a White House ceremony following two years of congressional lobbying. It was the first semi-postal (a stamp priced above its actual value) in United States history. To date, more than 600 million stamps have been sold, raising more than $50 million for breast cancer research.

The people who made this happen achieved their success against all odds - no postage stamp had ever raised so much awareness and money for a cause.

Ernie Bodai, M.D. (creator of the stamp), through Cure Breast Cancer Inc, and Olivia Newton-John, through the Liv Foundation, have now bug to take the stamp worldwide. Supporters of this initiative foresee millions of the stamps being sold in countries around the world.

The "Global Journey" is the name adopted for the introduction of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp (BCRS) in all nations. The mission is based on the highly successful BCRS program initiated in the United States.

There are many obstacles to overcome (the logistics of fundraising and postal delivery), but these are minor compared to the battle against breast cancer. Our mission is for the postage stamp to fund breast cancer research projects and awareness internationally.

Efforts now are being implemented and strategic alliances are being established around the world to introduce the stamp. If you have any international contacts who may be interested in helping further this project, please contact us at www.curebreastcancer.org or (916) 614-5121.

This quest could prove to be a model for society in achieving unity in many other humanitarian causes.

By Ernie Bodai, Founder Cure Breast Cancer Inc.