In 2001, my mom died of lung cancer. She had smoked more than 50 years and was addicted. I was devastated when she passed, and eventually I turned my grief into action by supporting the work of the Lung Association.

Besides serving on the local board for 14 years, I ride in the Clean Air Challenge in honor of my mom and to help raise money for the research and programs led by the Lung Association. My focus is on tobacco cessation and getting people to quit smoking or never start. We know the impacts tobacco has on the lungs and body -- over 125,00 people die of lung cancer every year in the U.S. alone.

Please join me in the fight for clean air and the fight to make sure we can enjoy our loved ones for the long lives they should have lived. The motto is, "When you can't breathe, nothing else matters." Ain't that the truth?

Thank you in advance for your tax deductible donation.