Team "Jogging for Joan" walks and runs in honor of Joan Gaeta as well as all those affected by lung cancer.

Please join our team and come out on Saturday morning, November 16th for Breathe Deep Atlanta.  Breathe Deep Atlanta is a 5k untimed walk/fun run to raise money for critical lung cancer research. The course is located at Piedmont Park and is stroller-friendly and wheelchair-friendly. 

If you cannot make it out on November 16th, please consider a donation to our team .

All the information you need about the event is here.  Join our team or donate here.

SAN CARLOS, Calif., June 5, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Former NFL stars Hank Baskett and Chris Draft are joining hundreds of lung cancer supporters at the 8th Annual “Lung Cancer: Drive It Off the Earth” Golf Tournament hosted by the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (LCF). The LCF invites you to be part of this event and help surpass last year’s fundraising goals. The tournament will take place on Monday, June 10, 2013 at Green Hills Country Club in Millbrae, Calif.

“Lung cancer affects everyone regardless of their social status, age, race or gender,” said Bonnie J. Addario , stage 3B lung cancer survivor and Founder of the LCF. “In the last 45 years, 50 million people worldwide have died from lung cancer and we can’t just sit back and let this continue. This tournament will raise much-needed awareness and funds for medical treatments and studies for lung cancer patients everywhere.”

Lung cancer hits home for both Baskett and Draft, as it does for millions of others worldwide. Baskett, who played five years in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, and the Philadelphia Eagles, is helping his father battle the disease. When Baskett’s father was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2011 he struggled with treatment. After Hank was introduced to the LCF two years ago, they put him in touch with Dr. Ross Camidge of the University of Colorado, who was able to put Baskett’s father on a personalized treatment. Baskett’s father responded well to the treatment almost immediately and is living a full life today. Baskett recently hosted his own charity golf tournament in Rancho Palos Verdes and is committed to working with LCF to end this 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. Draft lost his wife, who never smoked, to the disease last year and has been working with the LCF and Baskett to raise awareness about the leading cancer killer in the U.S.

“We are excited to have Hank and Chris back again this year,” Addario said. “They are making bold statements against lung cancer on behalf of those affected by the disease, and they are demonstrating a passion for the LCF’s goal to help turn lung cancer into a manageable, survivable disease.”

Whether on the football field, the golf course or in real life, Baskett and Draft are fighting to raise funds for research and are setting good examples for lung cancer patients in all stages. Golfers and supporters are encouraged to join them on the private, Dr. Alister MacKenzie -designed championship 18-hole course. They will also enjoy a fabulous day of blackjack, margaritas, putting contests, prizes, raffles, auctions and an amazing homemade BBQ buffet dinner.

The awareness generated by this golf tournament can’t come at a more crucial time. In 2013 alone, an estimated 228,190 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in the United States. And the American Cancer Society also estimates 159,480 Americans will die from the disease this year.

The facts about Lung Cancer cannot continue to go unnoticed:

• Every day 450 more die, 19 every hour and one every three minutes will die in the US and 1.4 million worldwide every year.
• It is the leading cancer killer in every ethnic group, and since 1987 lung cancer has killed more women every year than breast cancer.
• Yet the five-year survival rate for lung cancer is only 15.7 percent, and it has remained unchanged for more than 40 years.
• This staggering loss of life has gone unnoticed too long, and the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation is on a mission to change that.

The LCF funds clinical research that leads to life-saving discoveries and treatments and provides critical support services and educational programs to empower patients, power progress and create hope.

For sponsorship opportunities, please email [email protected] or call (415) 821-9693.

About the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation
The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation is one of the largest philanthropies (patient-founded, patient-focused, and patient-driven) devoted exclusively to eradicating Lung Cancer through research, education, early detection, genetic testing, drug discovery and patient-focused outcomes. 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 1, 2006 as a 501c(3) non-profit organization and has raised more than $10 million for lung cancer research. To learn more, please visit 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

RELATED LINKS
http://www.lungcancerfoundation.org

Learn more HERE.

Attention North Georgians!  (...and East Tennesseans and Western North Carolinians....)  Help us fight lung cancer!  Join our team for "Breathe Deep Blue Ridge" at beautiful Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge, GA!   

Click here to learn more.

Congratulations 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.

by Lynne Eldridge MD
This post was originally published at About.com on November 12th, 2012.
---
Thanks to one solitary person with tsunami-like vision, Lung Cancer Awareness Month 2012 will again be celebrated by a lighting of the falls.

On November 16, 2012, Niagara Falls will be lit up in white for lung cancer. Not once, but twice.

Last year I shared the story of how this came to be. A story that transcends the event, transcends the waterfall, and transcends even lungLy cancer awareness month. The story about how a single person who wants to make a difference, and doesn't say "I can't," can help each of us who hears it begin to say "I can." I know I felt that way after hearing Christine Dwyers story. You can read it here.

This year, on November 16, 2012 from 8:00 to 8:15 and again from 9:00 to 9:15 Eastern Standard Time the falls will be illuminated in honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

If you get a chance to attend the event, dress warmly. You can watch the display from Niagara Falls State Park, NY, or from Niagara State Park, Ontario, Canada.

But the really cool thing is that anyone, anywhere in the world can take part in this event via live webcam.

Links for the live feed:

• American Falls Live Webcam
  
• Niagara Falls Webcam
  
• Falls View Cam
  

Last year, despite the cold chill of November, Christine described the event as almost spiritual. As I remember her excitement, the thought keeps coming to my mind; what would happen if each of us lived the quote that Christine shared last year? "If you don't like something, do something to change it."

Christine has lived up to that quote. The event last year was driven by her realization about lung cancer - that it affects far too many people; people from every walk of life. Having lost her step grandfather, step dad, and best friend from the disease, she founded "Make Some Noise for Lung Cancer Awareness." Most recently, and after arranging for Niagara Falls to be lit again for lung cancer this year, her dear mother has also been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. As she stands in the cold -- but with a warm heart - watching the falls lit up this Friday, please hold her in your virtual arms.

Photo: © Christine Dwyer

As of 11:00am, team Jogging for Joan is in the lead with 25 members!  Help us solidify and keep our lead by joining our team here.

The fun starts with check-in at 9:30am tomorrow morning (Nov. 10th) at Georgia Tech. All the details are here.

We are just days away from the 2012 Breathe Deep Atlanta. If you are already registered, we can't wait to share the morning with you! If you haven't yet registered or you know somebody else who might like to join us to raise awareness and funds for critical lung cancer research, there is still time to join our team, Jogging for Joan, online at http://events.lungevity.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=3570&team_id=28010.

Read on for answers to some event-day questions...

Breathe Deep Atlanta 5K Fun Run/Walk
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Georgia Tech Campus
BioTech Courtyard
315 Ferst Drive NW
Atlanta, GA 30332

What is the day's schedule?
9:30 a.m.: Check-in/registration begins
9:30 a.m.: Team photos
10:30 a.m.: Program
10:45 a.m.: 5K fun run/walk begins
11:45 a.m.: Prizes and closing ceremony

What if I haven't registered yet?
Online registration is open here through Friday, November 9, at 3:00 p.m., and registration is open at the event. 

What if it rains?
This event will take place rain or shine.

How do I get to the event?
Click here for a map of the Georgia Tech campus and the surrounding area.

When should I arrive, and what do I do when I get to the event?
Check-in and event-day registration will open at 9:30 a.m. If you pre-registered, go to the event check-in and t-shirt pick-up area. Look for event signs and volunteers in the orange t-shirts to direct you to the right location. Only pre-registered participants are guaranteed an event t-shirt; event-day registrants will receive t-shirts on a first-come, first-served basis only.

What will be happening on event day?
In addition to the 5K fun run/walk, there will be a Kids' Corner with free activities, as well as refreshments for all participants. A DJ will supply the morning's soundtrack. Check out the bake sale and raffle! Awards will be given to the top three individual fundraisers, top fundraising team, largest team, and first fun-runners to finish the course.

The course is friendly to strollers, wheelchairs, and pets on a leash (as long as they are cleaned up after).

What should I take to the event?
• Donation form and collected donations
• Cash for bake sale, raffle, and event-day donations
• Camera
• Sunscreen and/or umbrella

Major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover), checks, and cash will be accepted.

Looking forward to it!

Get all the details about the event here.  Register here.  

Hurry!  If you register by October 12th and use the promotional
code "EARLYBIRD" in capital letters, you will save $5 of the registration fee!

October 23rd Update:  Check out Kelcey on TV's "The Doctors" HERE.

August 9th Update:  Check out this video about Kelcey from Jill's Legacy.

***The following article was written by Kelcey Harrison and published on The Huffington Post on July 31st, 2012.***

Kelcey is a native San Franciscan and is a major marathoner and lung cancer advocate. On July 30th 2012, after leaving her job at New York County’s District Attorney’s office, the 24 year old Harvard grad set out on her Great Lung Run – a 3,500-mile run from New York’s Times Square to downtown San Francisco. Harrison expects to arrive in November 2012 and will be blogging  and tweeting her adventures until then. 

Kelcey Harrison:

I don't know if I am in denial, am extremely naive, or if I truly am confident that this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing right now, but for some reason the fact that I've started running 30 miles a day and won't stop until I reach San Francisco doesn't seem to stress or scare me. Maybe it's just that crazy people don't realize they're that crazy?

I'm just your average 24-year-old who grew up in San Francisco, went to Harvard University, and moved to New York soon after college. For the last two years I worked at the New York County District Attorney's Office. Although I had the best time working there, I realized that law school was not really the route I wanted to take, and I was feeling a pull to make a change coupled with a very strong desire to contribute more to Jill's Legacy, I began thinking about some new options. 

This is where I break from the normal... The idea that I came up with was to run from New York to San Francisco to raise money and awareness for lung cancer. Lots of people asked, why? Couldn't I have done something a little less risky? But for me, it made perfect sense. I am using a skill that I have been blessed with -- running long-distance -- to make a difference and to draw people's attention to a topic that deserves greater discussion, awareness, and funding. I am doing something really big and out there, which was what Jill was all about.

Jill and I first met when we attended kindergarten together. We went to school together from kindergarten through high school and remained good friends through college. While we were in school, there was a group of about five of us that was inseparable. She was a friend who was always there for me and had been in my life for so long that I always expected her to be around for life's big moments.

When she was diagnosed with lung cancer at just 21 years old, it was a huge shock. I certainly did not know how to handle it, but she did. She lived with more grace, determination, strength, and joy than most people will ever demonstrate in their lifetimes. After her diagnosis she did a lot of advocacy work with the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation. In the last year of her life, Jill was named Pac-10 Women's Athlete of the Year, she graduated Cal Berkeley with a 4.0 and she led the Cal Women's crew team to a national championship. A few weeks after, Jill passed away. After her passing a group of young people with connections to Jill and/or the foundation formed Jill's Legacy, an advisory board to the foundation. Our goal is to mobilize young people to use their voices and power to raise awareness for lung cancer and to really start a movement to demand a change.

Our goal is to debunk the stigma that faces lung cancer patients. The common belief that lung cancer is a smoker's disease or one that only affects older people is wrong. The first question people always ask in response to a diagnosis is, "Oh, you were a smoker?" The underlying message that comes across with this question is the idea that lung cancer patients somehow brought the disease upon themselves and so it is the last disease to get funding for research. This has to change. Nobody deserves to get cancer for any reason and, of equal importance no one deserves to get a disease for which there simply is not enough support. The survival rate for lung cancer has not changed in 40 years and that fact simply boggles my mind. With the technology we have today, there should be better options for early detection and treatment so that fewer lives will be lost. Why aren't people talking about this! For those of us who knew Jill, it drives us nuts.

So, my journey has begun and I already have so much to share! Follow my Twitter account, as I will be Tweeting the wild adventures and characters I encounter along the way.

I can't articulate how thankful I am for all of the support I have already received. I am already overwhelmed by the responses. We have raised over $100,000 since announcing the Great Lung Run just one month ago. I would be so appreciative of any support that readers can offer, whether that be in the form of a wave, a tweet or a penny. To support, visit www.thegreatlungrun.com, follow me on Twitter, or email me at [email protected].