At our One Degree launch event on March 17, we had an impressive lineup cancer survivors, passionate volunteers, celebrity star power and supportive lawmakers to make the case for more federal funding for cancer research.

I know I am not alone in being touched by cancer Š—– in fact, this is a universal experience in America. But I was heartened to participate in the One Degree campaign launch in Washington, DC last week, to help raise awareness about the way cancer touches all of us and the importance of sustained federal funding for cancer research.

TuesdayŠ—'s event to launch the One Degree Project on Capitol Hill was such a success that IŠ—'m still in awe today. We had a room full of celebrities, lawmakers, partners from the cancer community and passionate advocates from every state all calling on Congress to increase cancer research funding.

There are few things in life that we all share in common, but we are all just one degree from cancer. Whether itŠ—'s a parent, grandparent, other relative, friend, co-worker or even you, we all know someone who has faced this disease, and thus we all know just how important cancer research is to the quality of life and survival of our loved ones.

I was saddened to learn late last week that Dr. Harold Varmus will step down as director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the end of the month.