CHARLESTON, SC | November 9, 2024
This morning, nearly 450 lung health advocates from across the Charleston area laced up their sneakers to stomp out lung cancer at the American Lung Association in South Carolina’s annual LUNG FORCE Run/Walk. The event, which took place at Folly Beach County Park, was held in honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Participants raised more than $145,000, and counting, to support the Lung Association’s mission to end lung cancer and lung disease.
“Thank you to our Lowcountry community, volunteers, sponsors and LUNG FORCE Heroes who came together to make a difference in the lives of people facing lung cancer and lung disease. We’ve raised $145,000—a historic high for this event!” said Chris Childress, member of the LUNG FORCE Run/Walk Cabinet and administrative director of oncology at Trident Medical Center. “These funds go directly towards lifesaving research, programming and advocacy here in South Carolina.”
During the awards ceremony, the Lung Association recognized “Jordan’s A-Team” with the largest team award. The 61 members of the team, led by Jenna Rossman and Titus Haney, participated in honor of Jordan Van Winkle Haney, who passed away from lung cancer at the age of 34 earlier this year.
Elaine Carew received the Alvin P. Tiedemann Challenge Cup for top individual fundraiser.
“I became involved with LUNG FORCE because I lost my father to lung cancer, so this event is very close to my heart,” said Carew, who serves as chair of the LUNG FORCE Run/Walk Cabinet. “It’s an honor to stand together with my community as one mighty force to drive transformative change in the fight against lung disease.”
November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month. The Lung Association is raising awareness, promoting lifesaving lung cancer screening and raising money for critical research to end this devastating disease. Lung cancer screening is key to saving lives because it detects lung cancer early when it is more likely to be curable. Yet only 6.8% of high-risk South Carolinians have been screened. Take the 2-minute quiz at SavedByTheScan.org.
LUNG FORCE is an initiative that unites those impacted by lung cancer, including survivors, caregivers and loved ones. The LUNG FORCE Run/Walk also serves to highlight the stories and lung health advocacy of community members as they make their stand against lung cancer.
Thank you to our local LUNG FORCE Run/Walk sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor Gilchrist/Bissell Wealth Management of Raymond James, Champion of Breath Sponsor Atlantic Respiratory Services, Trident Medical Center, United Therapeutics, The Crab Shacks, PBI, Daiichi-Sankyo, Johnson & Johnson and Takeda. Thank you to our National Corporate Team Partner, Kindred Hospitals.
For more information about the event, visit LUNGFORCE.org/Charleston.
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The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org. To support the work of the American Lung Association, find a local event at Lung.org/events.
For more information, contact:
Victoria O'Neill
(312) 273-5890
victoria.oneill@lung.org
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