Sept. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Lance Armstrong's foundation pledged $8 million over five years to raise awareness about cancer as he returns to professional cycling.

Armstrong, who earlier this month disclosed his decision to return to the sport, also announced today at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York his intention to hold a summit on cancer after racing in next July's Tour de France.

``I cannot guarantee any Tour victory, but I can guarantee that the Livestrong message will touch all aspects of our society and all continents of our society and certainly will touch all of the different diseases and facets of cancer that need the attention,'' Armstrong said, standing alongside former U.S. President Bill Clinton and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the event's opening session.

Armstrong's comeback, which will include races on multiple continents and end with an attempt to win a record-extending eighth Tour de France, would be the best way the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Livestrong Global Cancer Initiative to raise awareness about the threat of cancer, he said.

``This disease takes 8 million people around the world every year, 22,000 people a day,'' said Armstrong, who will detail his cycling plans later today. ``This must be a global health priority. It's the reason that we are here today.''

The 37-year-old, who came back to cycling in 1998 after recovering from testicular cancer that spread to his brain and lungs, will begin his comeback at January's Tour Down Under in Australia.

His participation in the Jan. 20-25 race in South Australia, the first event outside Europe to have ProTour status, was announced by state Premier Mike Rann. The six-stage Tour Down Under beat a ``series of international rivals who were all vying to host Lance's comeback race,'' Rann said in a statement on the race's Web site.

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To contact the reporter on this story: Mason Levinson at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York at mlevinson@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: September 24, 2008 11:17 EDT