HOUSTON -- A Texan famous for his athletic ability and his public battle with a life-threatening disease issued a challenge in Houston on Wednesday. Lance Armstrong is asking for funding to find a cure for cancer, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Community leaders and state lawmakers joined the world-class cyclist and cancer survivor at Rice Stadium 45 years after President John F. Kennedy stood at the same spot and issued a challenge to Americans.

"Just like President Kennedy wanted to get to the moon, he had a plan. He had leadership and he had funding. So we need those three things as well to defeat cancer," Armstrong said.

The mission is to beat cancer with a new initiative to be put before Texas voters called Proposition 15.

"With Proposition 15, we're fighting back. We're going on the defensive against a disease that is on the offensive against us," said State Sen. Jane Nelson.

Proposition 15 would invest $3 billion over the next 10 years in cancer research and prevention programs in Texas, and create the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

"When proposition 15 passes, it will more than double government investment in cancer research," said Ellen Cohen, who is a cancer survivor.

"I obviously owe my life to medical research and science. I think that this is a huge initiative. I encourage the people of Texas to vote yes to Proposition 15," Armstrong said.

The issue goes before voters on Nov. 6.

If Proposition 15 passes, the funds would go to any center in Texas working to find new cures and treatments for cancer.

According to the Texas Cancer Registry, 95,000 new cases of cancer will be reported in Texas this year and 37,000 Texans will die from the disease.