Lung Cancer HELPLine 844-360-5864
“Couples who have cancer together, stay together,” says Kristina Burke, a breast cancer survivor who is also primary caregiver to her husband Jim, who has stage IV EGFR lung cancer. “It’s hard to be in a family where two people have cancer. But we’re in it together and that’s what gets us through.”
After their childhood friend Jordan Christie was diagnosed with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer at the age of 25, friends Kyle, Jessica, Colin, Matt, Kellie, Julie, and Mike wanted to help. They saw first-hand how difficult living with lung cancer could be. The friends knew they could have an impact by raising money to help fund the two things that helped Jordan the most: new treatments and support programs.
Chris Crane and his friends Matthew Manahan and Eyal Yakoby have pledged to complete extreme physical feats to raise money for lung cancer research through Miles for LUNGevity on December 20th, 2020. As part of the event, Matt will bike 100 miles, Chris will row a marathon, and Eyal will run a marathon. Learn more about their efforts to raise funds for research and get involved here.
Bio: Jay Bailey ran the length of Sarasota County (about 36 miles) to help raise awareness and funds for lung cancer. Jay is a native of Sarasota, Florida and has lived there all 45 years of his life except for his college years. He is married to Christy and they have 3 children: Ashley, 13, Gracie, 10 and Davis, 8. Jay has worked for over 20 years in the fire service and is currently in charge of his department’s wildfire division.
Rebecca is a mom of 2 young boys and lives in a quiet suburb outside of Toronto, Canada. When not spending time with her family, Rebecca is busy at work wholesaling and managing various footwear brands across the country. She loves keeping her plate full with other small projects on the side that contribute to various causes within her community. Losing her mom at a young age to Cancer, Rebecca has a passion for raising awareness and money for the cause.
How did you first get involved with LUNGevity as a fundraiser?
Chelsea Bell is running 10 half marathons in 10 months in 2020 to raise $10,000 as part of Team LUNGevity. She is running in memory of her father and to honor her brother, both of who were affected by lung cancer. She was born and raised in South Carolina, but currently lives in Washington, DC, where she works with the federal government and raises three young children.
Why did you choose to fundraise for LUNGevity in particular?
Mike Ilitch III, of metro Detroit, MI, is currently fundraising on behalf of LUNGevity. He competed in the 2019 Detroit Marathon in the hand cycle division at the end of October. Mike was introduced to LUNGevity through good friends. He continues to fundraise and compete to support those friends and all affected by lung cancer.
Outside of training for the marathon, Mike works in commercial real estate in downtown Detroit and loves all the state of Michigan sports - especially college football (go Green!), Lions, Red Wings, Pistons and Tigers.
Abbie Lynn Abbott completed her first marathon—the 2018 Chicago Marathon – in honor of her mother, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018. Shortly after the race, her mother passed away. This year, Abbie is running the Marine Corps Marathon with Team LUNGevity in memory of her mom and to honor those who are living with the disease. Originally from southern Indiana, she now lives in central Florida with her husband and three children.
How did you choose running in an endurance event as your fundraising mechanism?
The Gamper Family has been a vocal advocate and fundraiser for the LUNGevity Foundation since 2014. They lost Maria Rixey Gamper in March of 2016 and now carry on their efforts in her memory. Dick, her husband, carries her torch. Catherine, Richard, Charles, Stuart, Laura, Alice, McKee, Charlie and Jay round out her immediate family and represent two rising generations striving to make an impact in the fight against lung cancer.
How did you first get involved with LUNGevity as a fundraiser?
Stephanie Holder is a LUNGevity endurance event fundraiser currently living in Chicago, IL. Her sister, Renee, was diagnosed with stage IIIB non small cell lung cancer in September of 2016 and passed away a short two months after at the age of 31. Stephanie participates in endurance fundraising events for Team LUNGevity as a way to honor her sister’s memory and make a positive impact on her own life and the lives of those who have been affected by lung cancer.