Volkswagen America has teamed up with the Stupid Cancer Foundation to kick off a cross-country road trip to raise awareness in support of young adults suffering from cancer.

Photo: VW and Stupid Cancer branded Beetle, from stupidcancerroadtrip.org

Volkswagen’s new 2012 Beetle Turbo will serve as a transporting vehicle to the ‘Stupid Cancer/Get Busy Living Road Trip’ on the way from New York to Las Vegas. Finally, it will arrive to The 5th Annual OMG! Cancer Summit for Young Adults (OMG2012), an oncology conference and social networking event for the young adult cancer movement. Volkswagen is the lead automotive sponsor of OMG2012, which takes place from March 30 through April 1 at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas.

Two young men, including one documentary filmmaker will travel through 10 cities organizing community events and capturing the stories of local young adult cancer survivors and caregivers. The participants will submit the stories to a judging panel and public vote to choose the winner. The trip and meetings can be tracked online and various social media.

The initiative will culminate with a presentation of the ‘Stupid Cancer/Get Busy Living’ Survivor Award to a young adult who has challenged his disease and “overcome the odds to embody the spirit and mission of Stupid Cancer”. The winner will be presented with a two-year lease of a 2012 Passat TDI.

«Volkswagen is proud to partner with such a pioneering motivator as Stupid Cancer in steering what is a much needed and powerful movement,» said Mike Beamish, executive vice president of human resources, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. «We are glad to lend our vehicles and support to help carry this organization’s uplifting message to the young adult cancer community.»

Another company, Nestlé, has published a nutritional guide for oncolgy patients in Spain.