American Lung Association - Fighting for Air

I Climb to Fight Lung Cancer!

I am a rarity --- a twelve year lung cancer survivor.  In 1999, a routine chest x-ray found a spot on my lung.  As it turned out, I had lung cancer in both of my lungs.  I am lucky.  My cancer was caught early enough that surgery and chemotherapy worked.  I climb because I can.

Most of us know people who are not nearly that lucky. Right now, I know several people who are fighting this terrible disease.  Sadly, I know several other people, including two of my uncles, who have lost the fight.  I climb for all of them.

 I Climb to Raise Awareness!

November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month.  Every year in the U.S. lung cancer kills more people than breast, melanoma, liver, prostate, and colon cancer COMBINED. Why is that?  Because people are unaware of the facts. There is no reliable early detection method.  There is no known cure.  Lung cancer research is vastly underfunded. 

We think that people who don't smoke don't get lung cancer.  That is wrong.  Ten percent of people who get lung cancer have never smoked. Lung cancer kills smokers, it kills people who quit many, many years ago, it kills non-smokers. 

I climb because NO ONE deserves to get lung cancer.  I climb because EVERYONE who gets lung cancer deserves the fighting chance that only more awareness and more research funding can give them. 

How You Can Help 

Climb with us.  Or donate to the cause.  Give to my climb.  Give to my team members. 

This climb was started five years ago by a very determined fighter, Gayle Bowman.  Gayle is no longer here, but every year, this climb grows.  More people climb, more people give, more people learn about and talk about lung cancer, and more people fight. 

The American Lung Association works to promote lung health and prevent lung disease.  Your contribution helps that mission.  Our local Lung Association started a lung cancer support group that serves as a model, because it is the one of only a few in the country.  Patients, survivors, and family members come together every month.  We eat, we visit, we learn, we help, we support. 

 The Lung Association works tirelessly to keep the issue of lung cancer front and center in the public mind and to promote increased funding to fight this awful disease.  And, if you want to be REALLY amazed, check out the story of my friend John Casterline, who despite being a three-time cancer survivor, is hiking more than 2000 miles this summer: www.lungcancerhike.org

Please donate generously!  Thank you!