Columbus Woman Rallies Community to Get Active to Support Lung Health, Fund COVID-19 Initiative

Columbus resident Missy Tilton is encouraging her friends and neighbors to get active this June to support the American Lung Association in Central Ohio’s Virtual LUNG FORCE Run/Walk.

Tilton first got involved with the Lung Association when one of her friends gave her an entry to the organization’s Fight For Air Climb at Rhodes Tower. Since her son has exercise-induced asthma and she was an avid runner, she decided to participate.

“2016 was my first Fight For Air Climb event and I loved it. I continued to do it every year and my participation with the Lung Association has increased from there,” said Tilton.

This June, she is an ambassador for the Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE Virtual Run/Walk in Columbus, so she is charged with encouraging the community to get active to support lung health. She is doing this through rallying her friends to join the event through social media and her many running groups. This year, LUNG FORCE Run/Walk is a virtual fundraising event where participants can run or walk one mile, a 5K, 10K, or a half marathon in one trip or can spread out their chosen distance over the entire month.

“I am all about supporting great local causes,” said Tilton. “I like to support the American Lung Association because I have friends and family who have had lung disease and lung cancer. I try to be a big motivator for other people.”

Tilton also works to raise awareness for lung disease and lung cancer in women.

“Something I saw that stuck out to me was that lung disease is one of the number one killers of women. Since I am a woman who is approaching middle age, this is something that is important for me to raise awareness about and support,” she said.

Money raised at the Virtual LUNG FORCE Run/Walk will fund the Lung Association’s efforts to end lung cancer and lung disease. It will also support the Lung Association’s COVID-19 Action Initiative, a $25 million investment to address COVID-19 and protect against future respiratory virus pandemics. The initiative works with public and private entities to increase research collaboration and develop new vaccines, detection tests and treatment therapies.

The Lung Association’s Virtual LUNG FORCE Run/Walk will be held throughout the month of June. Participants are encouraged to run or walk their targeted distance outside while respectfully distancing from others or inside their own homes. Registration is $25. More information can be found at LUNGFORCE.org/Columbus.