LCFA - Lung Cancer Foundation of America: BreatheLife

As the holidays approach, many of us will celebrate another year of life for ourselves or someone we love with lung cancer. Yet for far too many others, it's a time to remember those we have lost.

Simply stated, lung cancer remains the #1 cancer killer, killing more than the next top four cancer killers combined. Yet research for early detection and adequate treatment (not to mention a cure!) remains shockingly underfunded. That's why we founded Lung Cancer Foundation of America. And that's why we must continue to fight together.

LCFA is a fledgling foundation, yet we had an incredible year. For that, we're very grateful to you. You volunteered in community efforts such as Big Sunday's Polish Off Lung Cancer booths in Los Angeles, held "friendraising" events in numerous cities, and sent in donations from all over the world. You were generous enough to donate your Bar Mitzvah, birthday and wedding gifts to LCFA. Many of you chose LCFA to receive memorial gifts in honor of your loved ones, which was particularly touching. We are also extremely grateful to our dear friends at OPI Products, Inc. who introduced the fabulous new nail polish "BreatheLIFE", designed exclusively for LCFA to help raise lung cancer awareness.

Thanks to our generous contributors and, in partnership with the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), LCFA is ready to award $125,000 to a deserving researcher. We are now accepting applications from the research community with the goal of funding important and exciting research for molecular analysis of bio-specimens.

The winner of the first LCFA Lung Cancer Research grant will be announced in February 2010 at the IASLC Annual Conference. That's sooner than we'd ever imagined – but not a moment too soon for the many brave people fighting lung cancer now and in the future.

We are amazed and thrilled to have accomplished so much, so fast. Clearly, many people have been touched by lung cancer and are anxious help. But, of course, our work is only just starting. Please, we still need your support!

LCFA Co-Founders and lung cancer survivors, Lori Monroe and David Sturges

Lung Cancer claims more lives than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney and melanoma cancers - COMBINED.
Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States.
In 2009, the American Cancer Society estimates there will be 220,000 new cases of lung cancer in the United States and 160,000 deaths from lung cancer.
15% of all people who contract lung cancer have never smoked, in fact 60% of new lung cancer diagnoses will be in non-smokers - 45-50% of this group will be former smokers, many who quit decades prior to the onset of lung cancer.

LCFA Co-Founder Kim Norris with lung cancer survivor Michael Weitz

Lung cancer research remains grossly underfunded! The National Cancer Institute reported that "Research funding for lung cancer is far below the levels that characterize other common malignancies and far out of proportion to its massive public health impact."
According to the National Institutes of Health, in FY 2008: GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR LUNG CANCER RESEARCH DROPPED TO AN ALL TIME LOW of $169 MILLION: a 42% reduction in federal research funding for lung cancer research.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION BY MAKING A TAX DEDUCTABLE DONATION TODAY!

You will be giving hope to the thousands of patients and their families battling this terrible disease, while honoring the memory of those lung cancer victims who are no longer with us.

BY MAIL:
Lung Cancer Foundation of America
15 South Franklin Street, New Ulm, MN 56073

With best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season from our homes to yours,
The Growing Family of LCFA