11/15/2012 2012 Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation 7th Annual "Simply the Best" Gala Video. Please watch!Read NowCongratulations to Bonnie Addario, her family, and everyone at The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and ALCMI for yet another outstanding fund raising event! The Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Fund continues to be a very proud affiliate and are honored to know them and to work with them. Please take a few minutes to watch the video below, which was part of their Seventh Annual "Simply the Best" Gala last week. It is truly inspirational and very informative.
0 Comments
10/24/2012 Kelcey Harrison Runs from New York to San Francisco to Raise Awareness and Funds for Lung Cancer ResearchRead NowHarvard Student Supports Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and Continues 3,500 Mile Journey in Memory of her Childhood Friend SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (BJALCF) today announced Kelcey Harrison's progress on the Great Lung Run. She has reached Arizona, the eleventh state on her journey, running her 2500th mile and is now —960 miles from San Francisco, the ultimate destination. Harrison, the first 24-year-old Harvard grad to run across the country in less than 125 days, continues her journey to raise awareness and funds for all Lung Cancer patients. Harrison teamed up with BJALCF—the leading patient-founded, focused and driven non-profit dedicated to ending Lung Cancer and its young people's movement Jill's Legacy®, a subsidiary of BJALCF. Harrison hopes to draw attention to the most deadly form of cancer and raise money for research. Now in Arizona, Harrison has run an average of 30 – 40 miles a day since she departed New York in July. "My mission is to honor Jill's memory and achieve her dream of beating Lung Cancer for all Lung Cancer patients – big time!" explained Harrison." My friend Jill was a 22-year-old never smoker when she was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. It's important to share the message that anyone, even young athletes like Jill, can get Lung Cancer. I hope that by running across the country and showing what my lungs can do, I inspire people to join the fight against Lung Cancer – the most deadly form of cancer in both men and women worldwide. My ultimate goal is to help all people with Lung Cancer. That was Jill's dream & we intend to finish it." Harrison's trip, known as the Great Lung Run, has been documented throughout Twitter, Facebook, the BJALCF and Jill's Legacy websites. Harrison asks the daily question, #WhatCanYourLungsDo?, prompting her friends and followers to join the fight against Lung Cancer. So far, she has received a tremendous response, with children as young as 7 getting involved in the fight against Lung Cancer. Families across the country have hosted Harrison as she passed through their towns and many have run alongside her in support. "Kelcey is my hero and my hope is that people will listen, take action and change the atrocious lack of funding for research for this disease. BJALCF and Jill's Legacy are taking a seat at the table of progress in Lung Cancer research and together their voices are resounding in the halls of health care so that all Lung Cancer patients will have a voice." said Bonnie J. Addario, founder of BJALCF and Lung Cancer survivor. Harrison is scheduled to arrive in the San Francisco Bay Area in five weeks. A welcome home celebration of Harrison's journey, party and fundraiser will be hosted at Saint Ignatius High School in San Francisco on December 6th. Many sponsorship opportunities are available. The Great Lung Run was featured on Monday, October 22 on the nationally syndicated daytime talk show, The Doctors. Click here to view. How to Get Involved
For complete details on Kelcey's adventure, visit www.thegreatlungrun.com. To donate or sponsor The Great Lung Run, CLICK HERE or contact darby@lungcancerfoundation.org or 949.293.2093. Sponsorships available from $10.00 - $35,000. All proceeds will go to Young Investigator Lung Cancer research or projects designed to significantly impact survival, catalyze and accelerate the discovery, development and delivery of more effective treatment options for lung cancer patients through the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, and its sister Foundation, the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI). Interviews and Press Inquiries For interviews and press inquiries, please contact sheila@lungcancerfoundation.org, +1-415-357-1278. BJALCF and Jill's Legacy are hosting Your Next Step is the Cure® 5k walk/runs all over the country and Jog for Jill 5k's across college campuses. To participate in an event near you, click here. To host an event in your city, contact darby@lungcancerfoundation.org. About the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation BJALCF is one of the largest philanthropies (patient-founded, patient-focused, and patient-driven) devoted exclusively to eradicating Lung Cancer through research, early detection, education, and treatment. The Foundation works with a diverse group of physicians, organizations, industry partners, individuals, survivors, and their families to identify solutions and make timely and meaningful change. BJALCF was established on March 6, 2006 as a 501c(3) non-profit organization and has raised over nine million dollars for Lung Cancer research. www.lungcancerfoundation.org About Jillian Costello and Jill's Legacy Jill's Legacy was established on March 11, 2011, as a subsidiary of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, a 501(c) 3, founded on March 1, 2006. Jill Costello was diagnosed in June 2009 with Stage IV Lung Cancer and began fundraising efforts with Bonnie one month after being diagnosed. She came to work for the foundation in April 2010. Her DREAM was to end Lung Cancer for all patients and those yet to be diagnosed. Jill lost her battle with Lung Cancer at 22-years-young on June 24, 2010. www.jillslegacy.org About the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI) ALCMI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, established in February, 2008, and a sister organization of BJALCF. With offices in California and Connecticut, and dozens of member institutions in the United States and Europe, ALCMI is dedicated to catalyzing and accelerating the discovery, development and delivery of new and more effective treatment options for Lung Cancer patients. In response to widely-acknowledged and systematic barriers to progress against Lung Cancer, ALCMI developed and launched an inaugural research program -- a targeted, multi-institutional biorepository. The purpose is to facilitate the application of known biomarkers to patients presenting today, and to establish a collection of biospecimens essential for the discovery and validation of new biomarkers for improved diagnostics, treatments and patient outcomes. www.alcmi.net SOURCE: Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation RELATED LINKS: http://www.lungcancerfoundation.org by Ben Leach Originally published Online at OncLive.com on Friday, October 5, 2012. Bonnie Addario Nine years ago, Bonnie J. Addario was a successful fifty-something California businesswoman whose active lifestyle was being disrupted by persistent chest pain. Her doctors thought the pain stemmed from a bulging neck disc and, after months of fruitless exercising and frustration, she decided to pay for her own full-body computed tomography (CT) scan. As it turned out, she had stage IIIB lung cancer. Addario emerged from the trauma of her cancer journey with a desire to improve the experience for others. “It shouldn’t be that hard to get a good diagnosis and get good care,” Addario said during an interview at the 13th International Lung Cancer Congress. “There needs to be a change. And I am determined and committed to being a critical part of making that happen.” Today, Addario’s name is synonymous with ground-breaking research and meaningful support for patients. In 2006, she established the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, which has raised more than $9 million. In 2008, the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute was established as a nonprofit research consortium among top institutions spanning North America and Europe. Addario’s foundation also sponsors a lectureship award, which “recognizes luminaries in the quest to eradicate lung cancer” and supports a keynote presentation at the International Lung Cancer Congress. In July, D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, director of the Thoracic Oncology Clinical Program at the University of Colorado Denver, received the fifth annual award. As Addario has gone from patient to survivor, she has learned much about what patients are looking for in terms of information and care. Through her organizations, she is determined to play a part in helping patients with lung cancer achieve better outcomes. “There really is no consensus on standard of care for lung cancer like there is for breast cancer, for instance,” Addario said. “And because there’s such a good standard of care for breast cancer and early detection, the five-year survival rate for early-stage disease is about 90%. That’s where we need to be for lung cancer.” Conducting Her Own Search for Care Addario found that even after she was correctly diagnosed, she had to search for answers on how best to be treated. At first, she was told the tumor was in such a difficult position that a biopsy could not be performed. “It was too close to my heart for them to get in close enough to get any tissue,” she recalled. “So then they told me that the only option really was surgery to see what was in there, and that just didn’t sound good to me. You’re going to cut into my chest and explore?” By chance, Addario read a newspaper story about a partnership between Melissa S. Lim, MD, medical director and founder of Redwood Pulmonary Medical Association and a doctor at Sequoia Hospital, and David M. Jablons, MD, a professor in the Department of Surgery at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco. The partnership allowed the pair to see difficultto- treat patients. “They recommended a chemotherapy/radiation combination to reduce the tumor as much as they could. And then if that was successful, they would consider surgery,” Addario said. “We got to that point. I had all of the therapy, and David said that it’s still very difficult and it’s a challenge, but if you’re up to it, I am. He said, ‘Because if you don’t have it, you for sure won’t live.’ So we did it. We had the surgery, and I’m a grateful patient.” After she was diagnosed with lung cancer, Addario found out that her own family has a history of lung cancer; her mother, in fact, was diagnosed with the disease after she was. As a result, her foundations aim to advance both emerging research and patient support. Connecting Patients With Information The Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute focuses on collecting and analyzing tissue, blood, and plasma samples from patients treated through community hospitals. “Patients are not getting molecular testing at the rate they should be,” Addario said. “Many deserve a targeted drug, and they’re not being given a targeted drug because they’re not being given the testing. So our goal there is standard of care.” The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation concentrates on fundraising and public awareness campaigns. The first campaign was designed to raise awareness about getting CT scans to diagnose lung cancer. It has since grown into a resource network for patients and their families, with a particular emphasis on using the Internet to connect to resources. In June, the foundation launched its Lung Cancer Living Room, which consists of live stream broadcasts of an interview with an expert every third Tuesday of the month; patients and their families can type their questions and get answers from the doctor immediately. Addario estimates that about 1700 people tuned in to one broadcast. “There’s a breast cancer support group on every corner. Finding a lung cancer support group is not as easy. More often than not, when a patient is in treatment, it’s very difficult for them to travel any distance of any kind, and come at night because most people are still working, too,” Addario said. “Now we’re able to bring it home to them in their living room, where they can relax and have a cup of tea.” Addario believes that one of the biggest hurdles to better lung cancer care is the stigma surrounding the disease because of its association with smoking. She said that the negative perceptions contribute to a lack of resources being channeled into studying causation and prevention. “I never ask anybody if they smoked or not,” she said. “The worst possible thing that can happen to you is that in one moment you hear you have cancer—I don’t care what kind it is—and, oh, by the way, you should be ashamed, too, because you brought it on yourself. “We need to work on smoking because I personally think it’s not a good thing for anyone to smoke, but we shouldn’t take it out on people who have cancer,” Addario said. “We need to take just as good care of these people as we do any other patient with any other disease.” 9/27/2012 The State of Georgia Releases the First Lung Cancer Awareness Specialty License Plates in the CountryRead NowTina Pink Proceeds to benefit the Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Fund and their efforts to support research and awareness. Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) September 27, 2012 // On Monday, September 24th, the state of Georgia released the first specialty license plate in the country specifically dedicated to lung cancer awareness. Now drivers can alert fellow motorists that, in Georgia, lung cancer matters! The plates are now available exclusively through The Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Fund. Georgia drivers can learn more and begin the process of getting theirs at http://www.LungCancerLicensePlate.org. The license plate is sponsored by The Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Fund, a non-profit based in Atlanta that raises awareness and research funds for the number one cancer killer in the world. The process to create specialty license plates in Georgia typically takes nearly two years. The state requires either 1,000 plates to be presold or an up-front payment to be made to cover the fees for those plates. Through The Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Fund's fundraising efforts and the incredible generosity of their supporters, the Gaeta Fund was able to make the payment needed and to the get the bill before the legislature in a matter of months. State Senator Sean Jerguson (R-Holly Springs) was instrumental in adding the lung cancer awareness language to an existing bill (HB 732). He was alerted to this important cause by his close friend and Gaeta Fund supporter, Jackie Archer. A lung cancer survivor herself, Mrs. Archer is also a former Holly Springs City Councilwoman. In April of this year, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed HB 732 into law. "My mother, Joan Gaeta, died of lung cancer after a three-and-a-half year battle," says Tina Pink, a VP of Fundraising for the Gaeta Fund. "She was most passionate about raising awareness and fighting the stigma of the disease. This plate is a big step in that direction. I know she would be very proud! Now it's our mission to get them on as many cars as possible!" Mrs. Pink's sister, Theresa Andretta, VP of Operations, concurs. "Lung cancer kills more people than the next five cancers combined! Yet, it receives the least amount of funding. We have no choice but to raise awareness and to fight the stigma. These plates are a great way to do that. It is incredible to finally see them on the road!" The $25 plate manufacturing fee, payable to The Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Fund, helps them support ground-breaking research through the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute. ABOUT THE JOAN GAETA LUNG CANCER FUND The Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Fund was created in the fall of 2007 as The Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Foundation by her husband and children to raise awareness of the disease, to educate the public, and to be an advocate for research. They also strive to eliminate the stigma of lung cancer and to support survivors and their loved ones in their local community. In July of 2010, they re-launched as The Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Fund benefiting the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute. Their ultimate goal remains the same: “to eradicate lung cancer.” By partnering with one significant research initiative, they can make a much greater impact in wiping out lung cancer. http://www.forjoan.org ABOUT THE ADDARIO LUNG CANCER MEDICAL INSTITUTE (ALCMI) ALCMI was established in 2008 as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization with the ultimate goal of significantly impacting survival by directly catalyzing and accelerating discovery of new and more effective treatment options for all lung cancer patients. Presently, ALCMI has 13 academic and community medical centers in the United States and Europe closely collaborating on cutting edge research initiatives. http://www.alcmi.net ABOUT LUNG CANCER
The Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute Congratulates Congress for Supporting Strategic Translational Research Investments for Lung Cancer By: Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute via PR Newswire SAN CARLOS, Calif., Sept. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI) joins the pancreatic cancer patient community in congratulating and thanking the U.S. House of Representatives for unanimously passing the Recalcitrant Cancer Act (H.R. 733) yesterday. This important bill will bring a much-needed strategic scientific and research investment focus on lung cancer and other deadly cancers by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The bill is now before the U.S. Senate for its consideration and vote this week. As a patient-founded translational research consortium, ALCMI was able to additionally contribute the lung cancer researcher and clinician perspectives to the bill's sponsors, in conjunction with cancer patient advocacy organizations. The resultant revisions additionally encompassed lung cancer, which is by far the U.S. and world's number one cancer killer. "We applaud the bill's sponsors, Representatives Leonard Lance (NJ-R) and Anna Eshoo (CA-D), and also thank the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network for initiating the effort that resulted in the Recalcitrant Cancer Act," said Steven Young, ALCMI's President. "With the fact that lung cancer patients' 5-year survival rate has remained essentially unchanged at a dismal 15% for the last forty years, lung cancer is by definition recalcitrant." More than 160,000 Americans are projected to die from lung cancer in 2012, taking more lives than the next top four cancers (colon, breast, pancreatic and prostate) combined. The lack of progress against lung cancer has resulted from a number of factors, including the genetic complexity of these tumors coupled with disproportionately low federal research investment. This bill addresses a serious and urgent public health issue. "By prioritizing lung and pancreatic cancers as the two leading, ineffectively-treated causes of cancer mortality in this country, we are not just supporting the best science for science's sake. We will now focus the nation's best scientists to do the best science possible in order to decrease death and suffering from these two major health problems," said David Carbone, MD, PhD, Ohio State University; Chair of ALCMI's Scientific Leadership Board. ALCMI and the lung cancer patient community are elated that Congress and the NCI have taken a key step forward to address these challenges. "As a lung cancer survivor, I urge the Senate to unanimously pass this bill this week," said Bonnie J. Addario, Founder of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and ALCMI. "On behalf of the lung cancer community, we also ask President Obama to sign the bill, once passed, and help us drive research against lung and pancreatic cancers. We didn't ask to be diagnosed with cancer but we are asking for your help finding a cure." About the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI) ALCMI, as a patient-founded translational research consortium, was established in 2008 to directly catalyze and accelerate the discovery of new and more effective treatment options for all lung cancer patients. ALCMI has established a centralized, standardized biorepository with associated clinical data to serve as a resource to investigators within and without our consortium member institutions. Presently, 15 leading academic and community centers in the US and Europe have contractually joined together under ALCMI's leadership, collaborating on cutting edge research initiatives. For more information on ALCMI please contact Mr. Steven Young, President at 203.226.5765 or syoung@alcmi.net. http://www.alcmi.net/ About the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation BJALCF is one of the largest philanthropies (patient-founded, patient-focused, patient-driven) devoted exclusively to eradicating lung cancer through research, early detection, education, and treatment. The Foundation works with a diverse group of physicians, organizations, industry partners, individuals, survivors, and their families to identify solutions and make timely and meaningful change. BJALCF was established in 2006 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and has raised over nine million dollars for lung cancer research. For more information on BJALCF, contact Mr. Scott Santarella, President & CEO, at 203.858.7032 or ssantarella@lungcancerfoundation.org. www.lungcancerfoundation.org SOURCE Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute 6/20/2012 @TheHankBaskett & @TeamDraft Teamed Up w/ @BonnieJAddario and Raised $145K to Drive the #1 Cancer Killer Off the MapRead NowSAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The former NFL duo is rallying a star-studded list of Hollywood and athletic celebrities to join them in their personal journey to tackle lung cancer Hank: "I'm here to support Bonnie's Foundation because lung cancer is personal to me. It has swooped in and attacked my dad, & I understand how brutally destructive this cancer is & how many people are waging war to battle it." Chris: "I am honored to be here and passionate about helping an organization like the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation that is leading the way, and pushing for immediate answers - not future hypotheses, for people like my wife, who never smoked and was in great physical shape, but was diagnosed with lung cancer and died less than a year later. Bonnie is demanding answers NOW!" Hank: "Every breath you take--the fuel of your body starts with your lungs. So take care of your lungs because you'll need them--more than you'll ever imagine. Trust me." Bonnie: "I get the breathing thing...I know it first hand and I know what it feels like when you can't. It is our FUEL. Without it, life is terribly compromised...just having the support of Chris and Hank takes my breath away--in the good way!" While the U.S. Open was in full swing just 15 minutes away at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, 144 heroes including NFL stars Chris Draft and Hank Baskett were championing the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation's Seventh Annual "Lung Cancer: Drive it off the Earth" Golf Tournament at Alistair MacKenzie-designed Green Hills Country Club. This year's tournament raised more than $145,000 for this least-funded, yet most deadly cancer, which will go toward Lung Cancer research. For both players, lung cancer is personal. Baskett, signed by the Colts and went on to play five years in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, and the Philadelphia Eagles is helping his father battle the disease. Draft, played 12 years in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, St. Louis Rams, and the Buffalo Bills recently lost his wife to the disease. Together, they are tackling lung cancer by raising awareness. "We're proud that Hank Baskett and Chris Draft are making a bold statement against Lung Cancer," says Bonnie J. Addario, founder and a Lung Cancer survivor. "We're so honored to have Hank and Chris--and their football and Hollywood friends--on our team helping to raise much-needed funding and awareness for Lung Cancer and the message that ANYONE CAN GET LUNG CANCER." The reception cocktail party, silent and live auctions and raffle proved that everyone was a winner. Addario, one of the rare Lung Cancer survivors and founder of the Foundation, welcomed Draft and Baskett into the Foundation's family at dinner. "I'm so proud to have Hank and Chris in our family," said Bonnie. "Hank, I loved meeting your Dad at the tournament you held for us in May at the Trump National Golf Club. The only way I can describe him is he's a GREAT BIG HUG and your mom is a pistol. The leadership and courage you and Chris are bringing to the team has grown way beyond the football field. Thank you for stepping up and helping us turn Lung Cancer into a manageable, survivable disease." There wasn't a dry eye in the house after an airing of "Chris Draft, Love and Loss," -ESPN's touching profile of Chris and his late wife Keasha, and their commitment to dance, smile, and live as they fought lung cancer together. As a former Charlotte Hornets Honeybee dancer and member of Clemson University's Rally Cat dance squad, Keasha was an energetic vibrant young woman who had never smoked when she was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer in December 2010. At the time, her only "symptom" was a slight shortness of breath a few days earlier. Despite the diagnosis and knowing the long odds they faced, Keasha and Chris decided to fight back. On November 27, 2011, standing side-by-side, they launched Team Draft together at their wedding. One month later, Keasha lost her courageous fight and died at the age of 38. "The only way to tackle the issue of lung cancer is to do it as a solid team bringing together everyone from the patients and caregivers to the researchers and the doctors who are demanding that the results so far are not good at all," said Draft. "There's no one group that has a monopoly on this and that is why I was drawn to Bonnie and the foundation because they are working as a team with the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI) and their Lung Cancer Living Room® series. What separates them is that Bonnie knows there is a sense of urgency. Keasha had one year from her diagnosis, so I don't listen when someone says 'we're working on it." That's not good enough." First place winners of the sold-out tournament were Michael Vasquez, Greg Gabbani, Josh Lutz and many-time winner Eddie Hernandez with an astounding 54. Second place winners were Rich Deponte, Stan Colombo, Dan Poncabra and long-time faithful major donor Mo Townsley with a score of 55. The tournament's presenting sponsor's team from the Burns Family Foundation and Mobius Fit was led by Rob Dean and the foursome including Dave Engel, Ross Headley and Jeff Lokey came in third with a score of 56 (26 back 9). To view select photos from the tournament, go to: http://tinyurl.com/BJAgolf2012 To join the team and host an event or golf tournament in your town, contact Jennifer Hughes, Manager of Affiliates and Independent Fundraisers, at 650.333.6936 or jhughes@lungcancerfoundation.org For press inquiries, contact Sheila Von Driska, Communications, at 415.357.1278 or sheila@lungcancerfoundation.org About the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation BJALCF is one of the largest philanthropies (patient-founded, patient-focused, and patient-driven) devoted exclusively to eradicating Lung Cancer through research, early detection, education, and treatment. The Foundation works with a diverse group of physicians, organizations, industry partners, individuals, survivors, and their families to identify solutions and make timely and meaningful change. BJALCF was established on March 6, 2006 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. www.lungcancerfoundation.org About The Chris Draft Family Foundation and Team Draft The Chris Draft Family Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation dedicated to strengthening communities by empowering families to live healthy lifestyles. The Foundation focuses on several initiatives with overarching themes that stress the importance of education, healthy lifestyles, character development, personal responsibility, self-discipline, and physical fitness. To learn more about the Chris Draft Family Foundation, please visit www.chrisdraftfamilyfoundation.org . SOURCE Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved 3/23/2012 The Joan Gaeta #LungCancer Fund Commits $30,000 to the Addario Lung Cancer Medical InstituteRead Now Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) March 23, 2012 - For the fifth consecutive year, The Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Fund's annual “Dancing for Joan” event was a huge success and served as the climax to their most successful year of fundraising. Today, the Gaeta Fund announced their commitment of $30,000 to international lung cancer research through the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALMCI). They also announced the commitment of $6,000 to local awareness initiatives in 2012. On Saturday, February 25th, nearly 200 supporters gathered together at the Pavilion of East Cobb in Marietta, Georgia for the fifth annual lung cancer fundraiser. They were treated to great food, great music, and - of course - dancing. Guests were also educated and inspired by an impressive lineup of speakers. Leading things off after the cocktail hour was the Honorary Chairman of the event, Dr. Paul Scheinberg, Chief of Medical Staff at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta, Founder of Atlanta Pulmonary Group, and tireless lung cancer advocate. He explained the changes in the profile of the "typical" lung cancer patient over the last 20 years and urged people to fight the stigma. Next, guests welcomed former NFL linebacker Chris Draft, who recently lost his wife to lung cancer a mere month after they were married. They viewed his profile from ESPN and heard his inspiring words as he honors the memory of his beautiful wife Keasha with the launch of "Team Draft". We then heard from Bonnie Addario, Founder and President of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI). The cornerstone presentation of the evening recapped the advances these organizations have made in the fight against lung cancer. In July of 2010, the Gaetas announced their formal partnership with ALCMI, committing 85 percent of their net proceeds to the excellent work they are doing. Remaining funds are used in metro Atlanta for annual awareness initiatives. The “Dancing for Joan” presenting sponsor was represented by Patti Owen, Director of Oncology Services at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. She gave an update of the exciting things that are taking shape at Northside regarding the treatment of cancer - in particular lung cancer. “We are very excited about our partnership with ALMCI and for what our annual event was able to accomplish,” says Joe Gaeta, president of The Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Fund, and son of the late Joan Gaeta, in whose memory the organization was founded. “We are confident that our supporter’s generous donations will make a deep and immediate impact with ALCMI.” “We are incredibly and deeply thankful to the Gaeta Family for their commitment to ending lung cancer in Joan's memory,” says Bonnie J. Addario, founder. “It is with partners like the Gaeta Fund that will allow ALCMI to begin to raise the 'curability' of lung cancer in a significant way.” A lifelong non-smoker, Joan Gaeta was a devoted wife, teacher, and mother of five. Diagnosed with Lung Cancer in early 2004, she fought a three and a half year battle before succumbing in July of 2007. During that time, Joan stressed the need for greater awareness of Lung Cancer, the number one cancer killer in the world, which has a very low survival rate and a tragic lack of research funds. She was most passionate about eliminating the stigma of the disease, since lung cancer also strikes non-smokers at a high rate. # # # The Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Fund was created in the fall of 2007 as The Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Foundation by her husband and children to raise awareness of the disease, to educate the public, and to be an advocate for research. We also strive to eliminate the stigma of lung cancer and to support survivors and their loved ones in our local community. In July of 2010, they re-launched as The Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Fund benefiting the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute. Their ultimate goal remains the same: “to eradicate lung cancer.” By partnering with one significant research initiative, they can make a much greater impact in wiping out lung cancer. ABOUT THE ADDARIO LUNG CANCER MEDICAL INSTITUTE (ALCMI) ALCMI was established in 2008 as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization with the ultimate goal of significantly impacting survival by directly catalyzing and accelerating discovery of new and more effective treatment options for all lung cancer patients. Presently, ALCMI has 13 academic and community medical centers in the United States and Europe closely collaborating on cutting edge research initiatives. 1/17/2012 Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (BJALCF) Announces 2011 Grants for Lung Cancer ResearchRead NowSAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Just two months shy of marking its 7-year anniversary, BJALCF announced today that it has awarded over $1 million in grants for 2012 Lung Cancer Research. BJALCF has made a promise to the Lung Cancer Community to fund only immediate results-oriented projects or programs promising to catalyze progress through early detection, genetic testing, drug discovery and patient-focused outcomes. Just ask any one of the BJALCF Lung Cancer survivors, family members or friends fighting for survival--or any of those who have lost someone they love way too soon to this horrific and most-underfunded #1 Cancer Killer, why results-oriented projects are of the essence? BJALCF's ultimate goal is to turn Lung Cancer into a survivable, manageable chronic disease. After rigorous review of 26 grant requests by the BJALCF Scientific Advisory Board, much-needed funding has been distributed worldwide to the brightest, most dedicated, and determined researchers in the urgent quest to extend lives. They are as follows:
For more information about the grants or to learn more about how you can participate in eradicating Lung Cancer in our lifetime, please visit www.lungcancerfoundation.org . To arrange interviews with the researchers, Bonnie J. Addario, Lung Cancer Survivor and Founder, Wells Whitney, ScD, Chair of the BJALCF Scientific Advisory Board, Scott Santarella, President and CEO, and/or our growing army of Lung Cancer Survivors, please contact Sheila Von Driska at 415.357.1278 or sheila@lungcancerfoundation.org. Your mighty pen can help. SOURCE Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.
|
Details
|