270 Locals Gather and Raise $63,000 to End Lung Cancer

This morning, more than 270 people participated in the American Lung Association in Jacksonville’s LUNG FORCE Run/Walk at Haskell in Riverside. The event raised more than $63,000 to fund the Lung Association’s efforts to end lung cancer and lung disease.

For the event, participants ran or walked a 5K at Haskell in Riverside. “We were very excited to host this year’s LUNG FORCE Run/Walk as it was a morning filled with memorable moments of joy and hope for all of our participants, especially our LUNG FORCE Heroes,” said Cindy Springer, senior manager of development for the American Lung Association in Jacksonville. “Thank you to all our participants, volunteers and sponsors who came together to make a difference in the lives of people facing lung disease and lung cancer.”

Here in Florida, it is estimated that 19,560 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer and 10,440 will succumb to the disease in 2022. But there is hope. More Americans than ever are surviving lung cancer. The lung cancer survival rate has increased to 25% and awareness of this deadly disease has steadily increased. Greater awareness of lung cancer is key to securing research funding, encouraging lung cancer screening, reducing stigma around this disease, and ultimately, saving lives.

Money raised at the LUNG FORCE Run/Walk will support the Lung Association’s efforts to end lung cancer by funding lung cancer research, raising awareness for lung cancer screening, helping people quit smoking, providing resources to people with lung cancer and more.

Thank you to our local LUNG FORCE Run/Walk sponsors including Florida Blue Cross Blue Shield, Mayo Clinic, Baptist MD Anderson Center, Kindred Hospital North Florida, Florida Health, UFHealth.

To view photos from today’s event, visit here: LUNG FORCE Run/Walk Day of Video & Photos.

For more information about the event and to donate, visit LUNGFORCE.org/Jacksonville.

###

About the American Lung Association

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Gold-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.

About LUNG FORCE

The American Lung Association's LUNG FORCE initiative unites people impacted by lung cancer across the country to stand together against lung cancer, the leading cancer killer. Increased awareness about lung cancer, more education on lifesaving screening and more research funding are critical to fuel lifesaving breakthroughs. Through education, advocacy and research, LUNG FORCE works to provide hope to all those impacted by the disease and save more lives. Find out more at LUNGFORCE.org.

American Lung Association

1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) Lung.org