From our friends at LUNGevity...
Business Leaders, Philanthropists, and Lung Cancer Survivors Unite to Celebrate Scientific Breakthroughs and Improved Patient Quality of Life
Washington, DC philanthropists, lung cancer survivors, scientists and friends will gather and boogie to the hits of disco at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium Friday, April 20, for LUNGevity Foundation’s 7th Annual Musical Celebration of Hope Gala, Follow the Call of the Disco Ball.
The disco-themed gala benefiting LUNGevity, the nation’s leading lung cancer-focused nonprofit, will celebrate the extraordinary progress in lung cancer research and the improved quality of life patients are now experiencing due to earlier detection and new treatments for lung cancer.
For the first time, the annual event will be chaired by two lung cancer survivors, former ABC7 Anchor Greta Kreuz and King Automotive owner, Larry Aschenbach. Longtime LUNGevity supporter and NBC4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer will return as the emcee for the evening recognizing individuals and organizations who have demonstrated remarkable leadership in the fight against lung cancer.
Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence and 2015’s Face of Hope Recipient, will present the 2018 Face of Hope Award to Dr. Philip Bonomi, Alice Pirie Wirtz Professor of Medical Oncology at Rush University Medical Center, for his work to improve outcomes in lung cancer and how people live with the disease.
The 2018 Hope Award for Corporate Leadership will be presented to Foundation Medicine for their demonstrated exceptional commitment to the health and well-being of lung cancer communities in the United States and globally.
LUNGevity will also recognize the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs with the 2018 Public Service Face of Hope Award for their progress in improving access to high-quality care for veterans living with and at risk of lung cancer.
The event will begin at 7 PM with a cocktail reception followed by dinner, awards presentations, and dancing. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.lungevity.org/hopegala or contact Carol Perline at (240) 454-3104, cperline@lungevity.org.
About LUNGevity:
LUNGevity is the nation's leading lung cancer organization investing in lifesaving, translational research and providing support services and education for patients and caregivers. LUNGevity’s goals are three-fold: (1) accelerate research to patients, (2) empower patients to be active participants in their treatment decisions, and (3) remove barriers that patients face in accessing the right treatments.
LUNGevity Foundation is firmly committed to making an immediate impact on increasing quality of life and survivorship of people with lung cancer by accelerating research into early detection and more effective treatments, as well as by providing community, support, and education for all those affected by the disease. LUNGevity’s comprehensive resources include a medically vetted website, a toll-free Help Line in partnership with CancerCare®, a unique lung cancer navigator app, peer-to-peer matching for patients and caregivers (LUNGevity LifeLine), and survivorship conferences. LUNGevity also helps patients find and navigate clinical trials through our clinical trial finder tool, a Clinical Trial Ambassador program, and participation with Emerging Med.
Our vision is a world where no one dies of lung cancer. For more information about LUNGevity Foundation, please visit www.LUNGevity.org.
About Lung Cancer in the U.S.:
• About 1 in 16 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime
• More than 224,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year
• About 60%-65% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers
• Lung cancer takes more lives than colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers combined
• Only 18% of all people diagnosed with lung cancer will survive five years or more, BUT if it’s caught before it spreads, the chance for 5-year survival improves dramatically
