I started supporting the American Lung Association in 2011 when my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer out of nowhere. The home my parents had lived in for 35 years, my childhood home, tested high for radon gas. Radon is a naturally occurring odorless gas that rises from the ground and gets trapped in our homes and office buildings.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking -- and most people have never even heard of it. That stops today.

• https://www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon
• https://www.lung.org/clean-air/at-home/indoor-air-pollutants/radon

You can order radon test kits through Lung.org or any hardware store:

• https://action.lung.org/site/Ecommerce?store_id=34304&_ga=2.215254423.1288798429.1667496604-972813179.1667496604

I recommend doing 2 short-term test kits at the same time. If either test comes back high then follow up with a long-term test to get an idea of your home's average level. If your home's average radon level is high, the American Lung Association and EPA websites have helpful information on radon mitigation.

I hope sharing my story encourages you to test your own home and to spread awareness about radon to your loved ones.

Want to follow my training journey and climb?
This year I'm training to climb not one but two volcanoes in Mexico: Orizaba (18,491') and Ixtaccihuatl (17,340') on 2/22-3/02, 2025. Donate $5 or more to my fundraising page to join my training updates. I add every donor's name to my water bottle to encourage me each step of the way.

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The American Lung Association (ALA) has a score of 99% and Four Star rating on Charity Navigator. Donations are tax-deductible. Donations made to ALA support research, advocacy and critical education, provide lifesaving treatments, and improve the quality of life of millions of Americans living with lung disease and their caregivers.