LUNGevity Heroes Program to Celebrate Advocates in the Fight Against Lung Cancer

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The LUNGevity Foundation announces the LUNGevity Heroes program, a monthly honor recognizing individuals or organizations whose advocacy or research is making a difference in the fight against lung cancer. The top cancer killer in the United States, lung cancer, can affect anyone, regardless of smoking history, gender, or ethnicity, but remains underfunded and overlooked. LUNGevity Heroes advance the fight against lung cancer, serving as vocal advocates to spread awareness of the disease, carrying out groundbreaking research on early detection and treatment methods, and inspiring the community with powerful stories of survival or support.

NBC4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer has shone the spotlight of public attention on lung cancer, using his post as NBC reporter to extend awareness of LUNGevity's mission and actions to a much larger audience via broadcast and social media. Doug very often serves as the public face of LUNGevity and for three years has emceed Breathe Deep DC, the Washington, DC-based 5k walk, encouraging participation and general awareness. Inspired to work with LUNGevity after lung cancer affected his own family, Doug has become a strong supporter, creating visibility for LUNGevity at NBC events, including the Health & Fitness Expo where he led the LUNGevity walk for two years. His involvement through social media in conjunction with LUNGevity's activities and the resources it offers has been extremely effective at getting the word out throughout the greater metropolitan Washington area. This has resulted in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients and their families becoming aware of LUNGevity as a resource. At the 2012 Musical Celebration of Hope Gala, LUNGevity honored Doug for his contribution to the fight against lung cancer. For more on NBC4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer, visit LUNGevity Hero's Spotlight at http://blog.lungevity.org.

For more information on the LUNGevity Foundation, please visit www.LUNGevity.org.

About Lung Cancer

• 1 in 14 Americans is diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime.
• About 60 percent of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers.
• 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.
• Only 16 percent 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 percent.

About LUNGevity Foundation
LUNGevity Foundation is firmly committed to making an immediate impact on increasing quality of life and survivorship of people with lung cancer by accelerating research into early detection and more effective treatments, as well as by providing community, support, and education for all those affected by the disease. Our vision is a world where no one dies of lung cancer. For more information about LUNGevity Foundation, please visit www.LUNGevity.org.

SOURCE LUNGevity Foundation