Why We Turn Turquoise
We turn turquoise for people. For patients and their loved ones. For colleagues and neighbors. For everyone affected by lung disease. We turn turquoise 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 raise awareness and the research funding needed to defeat lung cancer once and for all. Heroes may also be asked to speak at a LUNG FORCE Walk Kick-off event, LUNG FORCE Advocay Day, Corporate Recruitment event and/or on Walk day.
If you're interested in becoming a LUNG FORCE Hero, please contact Kristen Miraglia 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 Gregg L.
Unfortunately, I know so much about this silent killer because I lost my wife of 35 years on April 9, 2018 to Lung Cancer.
My wife, Nancy, was diagnosed stage 4 lung cancer in 2012. This diagnosis came four months after receiving a clean bill of health following her annual physical, there were no symptoms of the cancer. The only way we were able to find out she had lung cancer was because she had a small bump in her neck. The bump was a lymph node that was infected with cancer. Had Nancy done a lung x-ray as part of her annual physical, the cancer may have been discovered while still in the lung. Once it leaves the lung it is most likely a terminal illness it can be cured if caught before leaving the lungs.
Nancy fought a courageous battle for over six years, overcoming, chemo pills, radiation, three collapsed lungs, brain surgery and full brain radiation, yet when you met her you would never know she was sick, she was always cheerful and smiling, never gave into the cancer. She passed during a medical procedure while under anesthesia, I thank god that she passed peacefully. Only 5% of lung cancer patients diagnosed stage 4 survive five years or longer. She was a fighter.
My three sons and I miss her dearly. But we have an opportunity to carry on her legacy and turn a dark story into a bright story. Screening is critical, whether you are a smoker or not. The statistics are staggering, I can go on and on. Educate yourself and discuss screening with your doctor just as you would with prostate, breast or colon cancer. Remember, 1/3 of lung cancer patients never smoked, that's 50k people per year, not to mention all of those living with lung cancer. Lung Cancer is the number 1 killer of all Cancers, it kills more people that Breast, Colon and Prostate Cancer combined.
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.