Beth Ida Stern
VP of Volunteer and Community Engagement
WASHINGTON, April 12, 2016 – LUNGevity’s volunteers nationwide have played an important role in ensuring the Foundation’s growth to become the leading nonprofit funding research as well as providing patient and caregiver education and support. To mark National Volunteer Week, April 10-16, LUNGevity celebrates the important work its thousands of volunteers do every day.
LUNGevity was created by seven lung cancer patients who stepped up and banded together to raise funds for research into early detection and treatment. Since its founding, LUNGevity has united volunteers from coast to coast in the common goal of creating a world where no one dies of lung cancer.
Women, men, and children across the United States have joined the cause, participating in Breathe Deep events by walking, bowling, biking, and baking to support LUNGevity. They’ve scaled Mount Everest, trekked across Europe, crossed the 26.2-mile mark in numerous cities, and ridden their bicycles, motorcycles, and tricycles, raising millions of dollars and affecting millions of lives. They’ve also given their time as LifeLine and Clinical Trial mentors to other lung cancer survivors or caregivers, or used their personal networks and expertise as Social Media Ambassadors to improve the quality of life for patients and caregivers and to help LUNGevity expand its reach.
“With the help of LUNGevity’s diverse, talented army of volunteers who donate time and resources, we are able to invest significant funds into the most promising research and offer free support services and educational resources to those touched by the disease,” said Andrea Ferris, president of LUNGevity Foundation. “Our supporters are integral to the work we do to raise critical awareness and funds for lung cancer research and help lung cancer survivors live longer, better lives. One volunteer at a time, one dollar at a time, we are making a difference for those diagnosed with lung cancer.”
LUNGevity Foundation welcomes new volunteers as it continues to grow. Those interested please contact Beth Ida Stern, Vice President of Volunteer and Community Engagement, at bstern@lungevity.org to identify the many options for participation.
To find a local LUNGevity event, see the calendar at www.LUNGevity.org/events.
Learn more about LUNGevity here: www.LUNGevity.org.
About Lung Cancer
- 1 in 15 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime
- More than 221,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year
- About 60%-65% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers
- Lung cancer takes more lives than the next three leading cancers (colorectal, breast, and prostate) combined
- Only 17% 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 dramatically