LUNGevity Foundation Launches 21 Events During Lung Cancer Awareness Month

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- LUNGevity Foundation steps up its push for a national conversation about lung cancer, a disease that affects 1 in 14 Americans, by hosting 21 events across the country, beginning November 5 - 6.  Fifteen of those events are the organization's signature Breathe Deep walks and runs, a new brand of events launched by LUNGevity Foundation to raise public awareness and critical funds needed for lung cancer research. Thirteen Breathe Deep walks have already been held in 2011 and more are planned for the spring. Through LUNGevity's expansive grassroots network, communities, celebrities, corporate executives and elected officials across the country are coming together to stand up to the #1 cancer killer. The LUNGevity events offer a place for those impacted by the disease to share, remember, hope and heal. Denver and Nashville join 19 other communities to raise awareness of the disease and the need for critical research funds for lung cancer's early detection and successful treatment.  The walks are a key tool for building a sense of community among those impacted by lung cancer.

In Nashville, rookie Tennessee Titans running back Jamie Harper, who lost his mother to lung cancer at age nine, is urging Titans fans to show their support for the community's Breathe Deep event on Saturday, November 5. Additionally, two-time Daytona 500 winner and Middle Tennessee resident Sterling Marlin, who lost his grandfather and his father, the great racer Clifton "Coo Coo" Marlin, to lung cancer, will headline the event.  "I know the devastation this disease has on its victims and their families," said Marlin. "Getting involved in 'Breathe Deep Nashville' is a great way for me to honor my father and grandfather."

The "Breathe Deep Nashville" 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, November 5, at Centennial Park, is one of more than 60 events across the country this year hosted by LUNGevity, which has the largest community support network in the nation for those impacted by the disease.

The city of Denver, Colo. is building upon its long standing reputation for lung research and rehabilitation by hosting its inaugural 5K run/walk on November 5 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.  In June 2011, a team of researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Center won a $600,000 grant from LUNGevity for a research project on the early detection of lung cancer.  A live tuba band and a yoga warm-up will kick the event off.  U.S. Congresswoman Diana DeGette is the Honorary Chairman of Breathe Deep Denver.

The 15 Breathe Deep events in November include: Bloomington, Ill.; Denver, Colo.; South Boston, Mass.; North Las Vegas, Nev.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Naperville, Ill.; Nashville, Tenn.; Concord, N.H.; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; Elk Grove, Ill.; Pompano Beach, Fla.; and Wilmington, N.C. Additional LUNGevity community events are being held in Birmingham, Ala.; Pennsauken, N.J.; Ocean City, N.J.; Kansas City, Mo.; Kankakee, Ill.; and Biglerville, Pa.  A full list of LUNGevity's November events and online registration for each is available at www.lungevity.org.

Many of those gathering for each event have been in some way impacted by the disease, whether they are family members, caregivers or survivors of loved ones. Team "Lisa's Legacy" in Naperville, Ill. and survivor Jerry Sorkin of Md. are among the many participants whose lives have been touched by lung cancer.

Team "Lisa's Legacy," in Naperville, Ill. will walk in memory of Lisa Carlinsky at the community's November 5th Breathe Deep event. Lisa, a non-smoker, was diagnosed at age 34 with lung cancer. During her almost three-year battle with the disease, she set out to create awareness of the life-changing illness and share her story to help others.

Bethesda, Md. resident Jerry Sorkin, a father of two, a never-smoker was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in 2007. He conceived of Breathe Deep DC in 2008 to bring people impacted by lung cancer together as a community. In its first two years, Breathe Deep DC raised over $500,000 for lung cancer research. This year's walk is taking place on the National Mall on November 6.

"LUNGevity is determined to put lung cancer on the national agenda, and Breathe Deep events are part of our campaign," said the Foundation's President Andrea Stern Ferris. "While the disease affects 1 in 14 Americans, government and corporate underwriting largely overlook lung cancer research. With the help of the impassioned, committed individuals across the nation involved with LUNGevity and Breathe Deep events, we can create hope, raise public awareness of the disease and save lives."

About LUNGevity Foundation

The mission of LUNGevity Foundation is to have a meaningful and immediate impact on improving lung cancer survival rates, ensure a higher quality of life for lung cancer patients, and provide a community for those impacted by lung cancer.

In order to accomplish our mission, LUNGevity funds the most promising research into the early detection and successful treatment of lung cancer. LUNGevity also supports the largest national grassroots lung cancer network, as well as the largest online support community for those affected by lung cancer.

LUNGevity has the largest grant awards program of any lung cancer organization in the United States and has awarded $2 million this year to fund nine of the most promising lung cancer research proposals in the areas of early detection and targeted therapeutics.

The organization was recently awarded the coveted four-star charity ranking by Charity Navigator, American's premier charity evaluator based on LUNGevity's sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

LUNGevity seeks to inspire the nation to commit to ending lung cancer. 

For more information, please visit www.lungevity.org.

About Lung Cancer

• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, regardless of gender or ethnicity, or smoking history.
• Lung cancer impacts one in 14 Americans and kills more than breast, prostate, colorectal, leukemia, and melanoma cancers combined.
• Lung cancer kills almost twice as many women as breast cancer, and more than twice as many men as prostate cancer.
• About 55% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers.
• Lung cancer accounts for 14% of all new cancer diagnoses but 27% of all cancer deaths.

SOURCE LUNGevity Foundation