SHANGHAI, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Around 12,000 cancer patients and survivors will gather together on Jan. 15, 2012 to perform at a special Spring Festival gala in Shanghai, an official with the city's cancer rehabilitation society said Sunday.

During the event, 12,000 cancer patients and survivors from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United States and Japan will perform a song titled "I Am Happy" in sign language, said Yuan Zhengping, vice president of the Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Society.

The gala aims to raise awareness about cancer in China and inspire hope in individuals suffering from the disease, Yuan said.

According to the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), there were 12.7 million new cancer cases and 7.6 million deaths due to cancer globally in 2008. By 2030, there will be 26 million new cancer cases and 17 million cancer deaths per year.