How John Wayne’s Family Continues to ‘Bring Courage, Strength and Grit To The Fight Against Cancer’
By Movieguide® Staff
The family of Hollywood icon John Wayne continues his legacy through the John Wayne Cancer Foundation.
The actor, best known for his roles in classic westerns like TRUE GRIT and EL DORADO, beat lung cancer in 1964. Wayne would later die at the age of 72 due to cancer in his stomach.
However, Wayne’s granddaughter Anita La Cava Swift said that her grandfather wanted to find a cure to help others defeat cancer.
“My grandfather, when he was dying, asked his family to find a cure for cancer by using his image and likeness, so that’s what we’ve been doing,” La Cava Swift told Fox 4 in a recent interview.
As it stands, the foundation seeks to educate children and their families about the harms of skin cancer through a program called Block the Blaze.
La Cava Swift revealed that the program already reached “over 50,000 children through summer programs and school about melanoma.”
“If you are really good about getting your mammograms, men getting your prostate checked every year, and getting a body check for moles, you can catch the cancer early,” she added. “That’s one of the things we’re really proud of.”
The John Wayne Cancer Foundation’s mission is to “bring courage, strength and grit to the fight against cancer.”
Movieguide® previously reported of the Hollywood great:
Actor John Wayne was known as a man of faith and patriotism, both in his personal life and on-screen in his popular Western novels.
He is, perhaps, most known for his fierce love of his country.
The actor was a conservative, which is reflected many of the roles he played.
“Sure, I wave the American flag,” he once said. “Do you know a better flag to wave? Sure, I love my country with all her faults. I’m not ashamed of that, never have been, never will be.”
The actor loved the rugged individualism in 20th-century America; one where there were endless opportunities if you were willing to do the work.
After World War II started, Wayne’s patriotism kicked into high gear. He was a founding member of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals and stood against communism.
Wayne is considered by some to be the greatest Hollywood star of all time, and his success could be rooted in his faith background.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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