LARA CROFT SCORES
CANCER AWARENESS
Copyright 2006 Eidos plc Press Release
[ May 3rd 2006 ]
Eidos
Interactive, one of the world's leading publishers
and developers of entertainment software, today
announced gaming legend Lara
Croft has been chosen to be the spokesmodel
for the Skin
Cancer Awareness Foundation of Minden, Nevada.
Lara's image will be used to educate and place
skin cancer awareness information in the hands
of teens across the country via the Sun Smart
Teen Program beginning in November of 2006. Dr.
Ann F. Haas M.D., Dermatology will act as advisor
and consultant for the program.
"The
goal of the Sun Smart Teen Program is to bring
education and awareness of the dangers of the
sun and skin cancer to the youth. Skin cancer
is the fastest growing cancer in the world and
the most preventable. Melanoma is being diagnosed
in the young populations, no longer just in the
older adults. What better role model than someone
who the youth can relate to, and Lara Croft is
that individual. She personifies the benefits
of having a healthy body. The youth today are
our future tomorrow." said William H. Barth, President/CEO
of the Skin Cancer Awareness Foundation.
Lara
Croft is a billion-dollar brand and pop culture
icon transcending well beyond her Tomb
Raider video game franchise. She is the inspiration
behind music videos, comic books, amusement park
attractions and endorsements for products, ranging
from hot pants to energy drinks. Lara's selection
as spokesmodel for the Skin Cancer Awareness Foundation
adds an entire new dimension to the Tomb Raider
brand.
"We are
delighted that Lara has been selected to help
bring awareness to teen sun care education," said
Bill Gardner, President and CEO of Eidos Interactive
North America. "Lara is the epitome of a positive
role model for teens: she's extremely health-conscious,
physically fit, independent, ecologically concerned,
and intelligent. Lara fights strongly for her
beliefs, and we are pleased she can do her part
in supporting the cause."
Lara
is arguably the first, and certainly the most
recognizable game crossover star. In the ten years
since the world first met adventuress Lara Croft,
she has become a pop culture Lara icon extending
well beyond her Tomb Raider video game franchise.
In addition to being the face that sold more than
28 million game units sold to date, she's been
lauded in Entertainment Weekly's "It" issue of
100 most creative entertainment elite, Time Magazine's
most influential figures of the 20th century and
as the only virtual celebrity figure featured
in Details' Sexiest Women of the Year.
With
two movie spin-offs and 200+ magazine covers,
the digital diva was honored with a star at the
Walk of Game in San Francisco, California in March
2006. And most recently, Lara was awarded the
Guinness World Record as the 'Most Successful
Human Videogame Heroine.'
Lara's
most recent video game adventure, Lara
Croft Tomb Raider Legend, hit retail stores
nationwide on April 11 for the PlayStation 2 computer
entertainment system, the XboxT 360 and Xbox video
game and entertainment systems from Microsoft,
and the PC. Lara Croft Tomb Raider Legend will
be available on the PSP system, the Nintendo GameCube
, Nintendo DS and the Game Boy Advance later this
year.
Lara
Croft Tomb Raider Legend is published by Eidos
Interactive and presents Lara in the finest fidelity
to date. A revamped control system provides intuitive
and fluid character movement, while a compelling
storyline and vast environments lure players into
an unrivalled adventure experience.
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