LL Cool J recently said that his wife’s battle with cancer has motivated him to help raise money to fund the research of the disease.

His wife, Simone Smith survived bone cancer after being diagnosed in 2004. The couple attended the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s “Hot Pink Party” in New York City last Thursday to show their support.

“Economics is always a big issue … and that is a bigger issue that affects everything — health, food, nutrition and education,” the Queens MC said. “That is a much bigger discussion that I can’t do in a sound bite right now. But I will say this is really important that we do research — because that is the only way that we can find a cure — and if we find a cure, then we can figure out to make sure all the people who need the cure have it.”

Cancer is an issue that is among the leading causes of death in the United States today. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 600,000 people will pass away from cancer in 2018.