Why We Run/Walk
We walk for people. For patients and their loved ones. For colleagues and neighbors. For everyone affected by lung disease. We walk because together we can defeat lung cancer and lung disease one step at a time.
What is a LUNG FORCE Hero?
LUNG FORCE Heroes are patients, caregivers, family, friends and co-workers of those who are impacted by lung cancer. Our Heroes share their powerful journeys — stories which help educate the public about what it's like to have lung cancer or lung disease. Heroes may also be asked to speak at a LUNG FORCE Run/Walk Kick-off event, Corporate Recruitment event and/or on Run/Walk day.
If you're interested in becoming a LUNG FORCE Hero, please contact Steve Gillis for more information. We also invite you to Share Your Voice and read about other Heroes' experiences too. Everyone's story is unique, and we appreciate you getting involved and becoming a LUNG FORCE Hero!
Read why these LUNG FORCE Heroes walk.
LUNG FORCE Hero Lori B.
My sister-in-law Gwen G. was diagnosed with lung cancer at age 58. By 59 she had lost her battle, but not before putting up a great fight.
Gwen loved to run and often ran to raise awareness and funds for research knowing one day it will lead to a cure. The work the American Lung Association does is vital to saving lives and improving lung health for so many.
Gwen wasn't one to feel sorry for herself and lived each day to the fullest. I'm honored to do what I can to raise awareness in hopes it helps other families like mine.
LUNG FORCE Hero Shannon S.
After several years of supporting the Komen 5K Run/Walk for Breast Cancer Research, it dawned on me that I was supporting the wrong cause. Not that breast cancer isn't a worthy cause and not because I didn't know anyone affected by the disease, but because I had lost BOTH of my parents to forms of LUNG disease. The American Lung Association was the cause I needed to give my time and attention to.
My mother was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer at the age of 54. After nine months of treatment which included radiation, chemotherapy and experimental protocols her tumor, which started out the size of a lemon, had been reduced to the size of shirt button. After a one month respite from treatment, my mom's next PET scan showed that the tumor had metastasized and spread to her brain, bones and most major organs. She died two weeks later at the age of 55 almost a year to the day of her original diagnosis.
My father, ironically, quit smoking six months prior to my mother's diagnosis of lung cancer. Six years after her passing he received his own terminal diagnosis. He was given two to four months to live after years of refusing a lung transplant and battling both COPD and congestive heart failure. He lived 28 months under modified hospice care. He was house bound and on oxygen 24 hours a day. He was in his mid 60s, but looked as if he was in his 80s. He died at the age of 67.
At the age of 37 I was now an orphan having watched both of my parents die at the hands of lung disease from their years of addiction to nicotine.
For the last several years I have worked with my local office of the American Lung Association to raise funds and awareness for lung cancer, general lung health and air quality. Fundraising each year in the names of Jack and Sue Skelly is the one truly good thing I do each year. In striving to share awareness it is my greatest hope that I also honor both my mom and my dad.
LUNG FORCE Hero Michael S.
Most of you know about the tragic news that hit my family in 2017, when my best friend, my go-to person, my brother, Robert Settler (a.k.a. Uncle Buck) was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. He was diagnosed in February and died 7 months later, on September 5, 2017. Robert was not only my "everything", he was so many people's "everything." A natural husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend, Robert touched so many lives which was evident by the huge turnout at both of his services in Albany, NY (his hometown) and then the next day in Westchester County, where his body was laid to rest. Robert was the second brother that I lost (Ricky died in 2002 at the age of 42).
When Robert's wife, Susan Settler, and his two amazing daughters, Julia and Lauren, approached me about doing something for this cause to benefit the American Lung Association; without hesitation, I told them I was all in! With the help from my wife, Mona Settler, and my staff (Addy, Karen, Marie, and Angelina) we joined the team to walk the event and help raise money to save lives by preventing lung disease through research, education and advocacy.