LUNGevity Foundation Launches Breathe Deep PSA Campaign to Share Ways to Join the Fight to Increase Survival of Lung Cancer

WASHINGTON, March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- LUNGevity Foundation, the nation's largest lung cancer-focused nonprofit, continues its push for a national conversation about lung cancer. The Foundation has released Public Service Announcements created to invite people across the country to join in LUNGevity Breathe Deep events throughout the year, to raise awareness and funds for earlier detection and more effective treatments of lung cancer.

The Breathe Deep walks and runs are LUNGevity's signature events, launched by the Foundation to raise public awareness and critical funds needed for lung cancer research. This past November, during Lung Cancer Awareness Month, 21 Breathe Deep events took place in cities across America in that month alone.

Through LUNGevity's expansive grassroots network, communities, celebrities, corporate executives and elected officials across the country are coming together to stand up to the nation's number one cancer killer. LUNGevity's Breathe Deep events offer a place for those impacted by the disease to share, hope and heal.

LUNGevity hopes the PSAs will inspire more people affected by lung cancer to join Breathe Deep events and the support system they offer to the lung cancer community. The PSAs also aim to promote awareness about the need for lung cancer research to eradicate the most deadly cancer in the country. There is a 60-second version (http://youtu.be/bEMl9JWw4mA) and a 30-second version (http://youtu.be/Si5b5jM7Cww).

"The PSAs capture the energy and spirit of those participating in Breathe Deep events," said LUNGevity President Andrea Stern Ferris. "We hope communities across the country are inspired to take action and start their own events to stand up to the disease and provide a support network for those impacted."

The walks are a key tool for building a sense of community among those affected by lung cancer, and this year dozens of communities across the country will come together through Breathe Deep events. Nearly a dozen events are already on the calendar for the month of May, designated by LUNGevity as Lung Cancer Hope Month.

LUNGevity has the largest grants award program for lung cancer research among lung cancer-focused nonprofit organizations in the United States.  In 2011 alone, it awarded $2 million to fund nine of the most promising lung cancer research proposals in the areas of early detection and targeted therapies. 

About LUNGevity Foundation

The mission of LUNGevity Foundation is to have a meaningful 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.

Through the support of critical research into the early detection and successful treatment of lung cancer, as well as providing information, resources and a community to patients and caregivers, LUNGevity is creating and sharing hope for cures, treatments and enhanced quality of life for lung cancer patients.  

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

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

About Lung Cancer

• 1 in 14 Americans is diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, regardless of gender or ethnicity
• Lung cancer kills almost twice as many women as breast cancer and more than three times 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
• Only 16% of all people diagnosed with lung cancer will survive 5 years or more, BUT if it's caught before it spreads, the chance for 5-year survival improves to 52%

To schedule an interview with a LUNGevity Foundation representative, contact Victoria Shapiro at (202) 414-0774 or [email protected]

SOURCE LUNGevity Foundation