Robert Plant Joins Roger Daltrey in
Teen and Young Adult Cancer Program at UCLA
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2Lqd1pNF0o"]KCAL9: Daltrey/Townshend Cancer Program at UCLA - YouTube[/ame]
Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant lends support for program, first of its kind in U.S.
By Roxanne Moster October 27, 2011 Category:
Campus News,
Health Sciences
WHAT:
Rock legends Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of the Who say they owe much of their musical success to teenagers. In a heartfelt repayment, the two will announce the launch of the UCLA Daltrey/Townshend Teen & Young Adult Cancer Program, which will serve teens and young adult cancer patients at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
The new program — the first of its kind in the United States — will build on the previous successful efforts of the
Teenage Cancer Trust, which has helped fund 19 special teen cancer units in the United Kingdom.
Rock icon Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, who has been closely involved with the program in the U.K., will also attend the news conference to lend his support.
The rockers will all sign a guitar during the press conference that will be hung on the wall in the new UCLA cancer unit.
The vision of the UCLA Daltrey/Townshend Teen & Young Adult Cancer Program is to ensure that every young person receives the best possible care and professional support to help meet the unique physical and emotional challenges resulting from a cancer diagnosis. The belief is that teenagers and young adults shouldn't stop enjoying their youth just because they have cancer.
WHO:
The following individuals will be in attendance at the press conference:
Roger Daltrey
Daltrey, a British singer, songwriter and actor, is best known as the founder and lead singer of the rock band
the Who.
Pete Townshend
Townshend, a British rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, is known principally as the guitarist and primary songwriter for
the Who.
Robert Plant
Plant, a British rock singer and songwriter, is best known as the vocalist and lyricist for the rock band
Led Zeppelin.
John Paul DeJoria
DeJoria, who will receive the 2011 UCLA Health System Humanitarian of Hope Award, is chairman and CEO of
John Paul Mitchell Systems.
Dr. David T. Feinberg
Feinberg is president of the UCLA Health System, CEO of the UCLA Hospital System and associate vice chancellor for health sciences at UCLA.
Sarah Sterner
Sterner, 17, who had a cancerous tumor removed from her brain, is an avid rock 'n' roll drummer whose favorite bands include the Who. She is now a spokesperson for the Daltrey/Townshend Teen & Young Adult Cancer Program.
Mike Pena
Pena, 28, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 23 and was treated at UCLA. He relapsed and endured a lengthy hospital stay while undergoing a stem cell transplant. He will speak about his experiences being treated as a young adult and what he learned visiting some of the teen cancer centers in the U.K.
Dr. Jacqueline Casillas
Casillas is director of the UCLA Daltrey/Townshend Teen & Young Adult Cancer Program, an associate professor of pediatrics at UCLA and a member of UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
The press will have the chance to interview Roger Daltrey, UCLA officials, and the teen and young-adult cancer patients and survivors. B-roll of Daltrey meeting with teen cancer patients in the hospital at UCLA and footage of the U.K. program will be available.
WHEN:
Noon on Friday, Nov. 4.
WHERE:
Tamkin Auditorium, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (
map)
757 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles 90095
BACKGROUND:
When hospitalization is required for teens with cancer, they are often placed in either a pediatric or adult unit. The UCLA Daltrey/Townshend Teen & Young Adult Cancer Program's special hospital unit will be a comforting environment where young people stay in adjoined patient rooms around a common lounge so they can provide emotional support for each other. The units are designed to provide, as closely as possible, a normal life, helping the youngsters cope with grueling treatments and long hospital stays.
