Danielle Hicks, Director of Patient Advocacy and Empowerment at the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation shares the BJALCF story and mission with Comcast Newsmakers and upcoming information on the June 11, 2012 Golf Tournament and Simply the Best Dinner Gala VII on November 10, 2012 in San Francisco.
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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. Our parent organization, The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, has created a online version of their acclaimed Lung Cancer Living Room support group. Unlike their monthly support group in San Carlos, California - the Lung Cancer Living Room Facebook page is not just monthly - it is a 24/7/365 resource avaiable to anyone in world. But, just like their live, monthly group, BJALCF hopes to create a safe place for everyone affected by lung cancer (patients, survivors, family, friends) to talk about our hopes, our fears, our struggles. To laugh, to cry, to share. To become educated and empowered. It is a place to do it TOGETHER. The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation is there for all of us all the time in the Lung Cancer Living Room. Grab a comfy seat on the couch at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bonnie-J-Addario-Lung-Cancer-Foundation-Lung-Cancer-Living-Room/125880774208310 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.
by Chris Ballard Originally published in Sports Illustrated on September 26, 2011 It's been 15 months since Jill Costello lost a yearlong struggle with lung cancer (SI, Nov. 29, 2010). In her final months she helped lead the Cal rowing team to second place at nationals, and since then her courage and strength have continued to inspire. Shortly after her death Costello's friends and teammates founded Jill's Legacy. The nonprofit funds research through grants it receives and a series of fund-raisers, including an annual Jog for Jill in Berkeley. In addition, the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, for which Costello worked, holds a series of events partly in her honor. The most recent, in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park on Sunday, drew 2,000 people and raised more than $300,000. In May, the Big Row between Cal and Stanford was renamed the Jill Row, and in November she will be inducted into the Cal Athletic Hall of Fame. But her family continues to struggle with the idea that a healthy, nonsmoking 21-year-old could die from lung cancer. "It doesn't get easier to keep reliving it," says her father, Jim Costello, "but you put on the best face you can because you know that's what she wanted. That's why people still come out for her—they saw the spirit she had." by Rob Densen
Originally published August 30th, 2011 on The Huffington Post. I came home Monday night, took one look at my wife, and knew something was desperately wrong. "Honey, what is it?" I asked, half inquiring, half -- by way of my sheepish intonation -- signaling my acceptance of the blame for whatever was awry in her life. "The refrigerator.... It's dead." "Dead, as in finito? Beyond any reasonable hope of repair?" "Dead as in last week's vegetable lasagna is lying in the sink, a disgusting, slimy mush. And your no-sugar-added fudge pops? Let's just say you don't want to know what they look like." And then came the knockout punch. "This is your fault." I couldn't argue. For the last week or so, as our 14-year-old refrigerator struggled for its last few cooling breaths, I was making my wife miserable in her search for a replacement, something that should, normally, be a mindless, checklist task. Our late refrigerator was a full-length side by side, with beveled wood panels on the doors which we got to match the cabinetry when we remodeled the kitchen. When it came to a replacement, I had relented on figuring out how to match the cabinets, but I was insistent on a side by side. My wife preferred the fridge-on-top-with-French-doors-freezer-on-the-bottom arrangement that is all the rage. For the record, my preference for a side by side wasn't just a matter of style. With a reconstructed knee, a frozen shoulder, and two bulging discs in my back wrapped around a giant lazy streak, I generally go out of my way to avoid any sort of bending motion. It's not impossible, just a little uncomfortable. In the week we dilly-dallied, the food was melting in the fridge -- and my wife was on the way. The next night I returned home and all was fine. "I ordered the top/down model. It will be here Thursday." She had been to her Pilates class earlier in the day and, in the midst of a long discussion with her instructor, it all became clear. "I realized," she said, "that this will be my last refrigerator." A Life Measured in Kilowatt Hours I couldn't argue with her. Not with the logic and, most regrettably, not with the truthfulness of that statement. My wife has Stage IV lung cancer. Given the arc of the disease and the quality of refrigerator design and construction, it is highly probable that this will be her last refrigerator. The question is, are we also on our last washing machine, hairdryer or big screen TV? It is unbelievably painful -- but sobering and highly instructive -- to look at lung cancer that way. Diagnosed with lung cancer and you're not talking decades, but kilowatt hours. It is an incredibly virulent disease. Overall, lung cancer has a 15% five-year survival rate. Stage IV lung cancer, the most common staging at diagnosis, has a 4% survival rate. Look at it this way: by the time you've finished reading this post, two more Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer. They are likely to be dead within five years. Here's another cold, hard and, I hope, unacceptable fact: 160,000 Americans will die of lung cancer in 2011 -- three times more than the next most deadly cancer and more than prostate, breast, pancreatic, pediatric and colon cancer COMBINED. And while breast cancer grabs the attention, the funding dollars and the 5K walk participants, the fact is that close to 70% MORE WOMEN will die of lung cancer this year than will die of breast cancer. Many of them will be women like my wife who never smoked, Indeed, cancer in women who never smoked is one of the fastest growing cancers. No one knows why. Regrettably, not many people are even asking the question. Of Lung Cancer and Consumer Electronics We're so good at -- and obsessed with -- technological innovation for applications both frivolous and mundane. Yet, we're so bad at deploying our ample resources -dollars and brainpower -- against a disease that devastates close to a quarter million families every year. Go into any consumer electronics or appliances store and you will be dazzled by the technological innovation. It's all so head-spinning that I need to take a Dramamine before going to the Apple Store. Our new fridge? It's probably good for 20 years. Plus, the ice cube dispenser knows exactly how many ice cubes I take in my Diet Coke. The picture on my HDTV is so clear that I saw shaving cream in Brian Williams' ear the other night and, even as I write this, the cell phone in my jacket pocket is secretly capturing the inner-most thoughts of the guy sitting next to me on the train. I may be exaggerating, but not by much. Finally, consider this -- last year, Apple spent $1.8 billion on R&D (Microsoft spent more than four times that amount) Want to know what the National Cancer Institute spent researching lung cancer, the number #1 cancer killer by a factor of three -- about $282 million. We can communicate globally without concern for time or distance, access the world's libraries from our desktops, tap orbiting satellites to map the most routine trip, and short gold with a swipe on our phone. We've made a Jackass movie in 3-D -- and there are smartphone applications that fight acne. But we can't figure out how to diagnose lung cancer early, or why non-smoking women are getting cancers in record numbers, or how to boost overall lung cancer survivability from a mere 15%? Something is badly off in our world. Shameful, actually. There's an app for that. It's called compassion. For more information or to support lung cancer research and advocacy, please visit one or more of the following sites: Uniting Against Lung Cancer, OneBreath, The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, National Lung Cancer Partnership, or the Lung Cancer Alliance |
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