San Diego CA— The American Lung Association in California will host its annual LUNG FORCE Walk on November 12 to support the nationwide initiative LUNG FORCE. Now in its fourth year, this initiative seeks to make lung cancer a public health priority, drive policy change and increase research funding.
“Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of women in America, but alarmingly few women see lung cancer as a threat to them personally,” said Rita Redaelli, Executive Director of the American Lung Association in San Diego. “The reality is that anyone can get lung cancer, yet lung cancer has been in the shadows for decades. This simply must change. We invite everyone in San Diego to join us and rally with friends, neighbors and colleagues to raise our voices together against lung cancer.”
Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. on November 12 and the walk starts at 9:00 a.m. This fun-filled event includes our LUNG FORCE festival, games, music, and fun for the whole family. The LUNG FORCE Walk will feature NBC Weather Anchor Whitney Southwick as emcee and is proudly sponsored locally by SDG&E, Ignyta, Celgene, APCD, Scripps Health and many others. The event is pet friendly and open to the entire community. Participants are encouraged to wear turquoise to show their LUNG FORCE!
The annual LUNG FORCE walk is held during Lung Cancer Awareness Month. It provides the San Diego community an opportunity to learn more about lung cancer and those fighting this deadly disease. “I didn’t choose lung cancer. Lung cancer chose me. I had no control over lung cancer. Therefore, I decided to take control. I am working with the American Lung Association to help raise awareness, raise funding for research and provide hope. I feel that I am making a difference – for myself, for my family, for our community and our future. Getting involved is something you can control. It DOES make a difference,” said Nancy Gatschet, Lung cancer survivor.
In California, there are about 18,000 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed each year. With one of the lowest survival rates compared to other major cancers, early detection and treatment is key to saving lives. LUNG FORCE educates and empowers patients and healthcare providers locally and across the nation, and also raises critical funds for research into better detection and targeted treatments for lung cancer.
The American Lung Association in California offers several resources for individuals and families that have been impacted by lung cancer. Anyone seeking help can visit http://www.lungforce.org or call the Lung Association’s Lung Cancer Helpline at 1-800-LUNG-USA, which connects callers to information, resources and support services. Visit our website, www.lung.org/lungcancer, for comprehensive education and support developed specifically for lung cancer patients and caregivers.