Thank you for visiting my fundraising page!  Donating through this website is simple, fast, and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts for the Lung Cancer Alliance.  Let me tell you why I want to raise money for this organization.

I lost both of my maternal grandparents to lung cancer. It's a terrible disease. It is my hope that by raising money for the Lung Cancer Alliance, I can in some small but significant way help others who are currently at risk of getting or currently have lung cancer. 

My mamaw had a stroke in 1988 when she was 57 years old. As a result of the stroke, she became partially paralyzed on her left side; things were never the same. She quit smoking, and my papaw took great care of her for the next ten years, but she eventually developed lung cancer. She decided to have radiation and chemotherapy treatments. The treatment made her very sick, and her final days were full of suffering. She passed away on November 15, 1999 at the age of 69.

In 1988, after mamaw had the stroke, my mom quit smoking. In 1999, after mamaw passed away, I quit smoking.

My papaw was also a smoker, but he quit in 1984 when he was 56 years old. Despite not smoking for 27 years, he still developed lung cancer that his doctor believed was caused, in large part, by smoking. Papaw chose a different path regarding treatment. He elected to forgo treatment in an effort to live his life the way he wanted to for as long as he possibly could. He accomplished this to a large degree, but his suffering was immense. He passed away on December 23, 2011 at the age of 83.

I believe that both my mamaw and papaw made the right decisions concerning how they battled lung cancer. I firmly believe that not smoking and quitting smoking as early as possible are key to preventing lung cancer. I also believe that once diagnosed, people need as much love, care, compassion, and support that they can possibly find. That's why I believe in the mission of the Lung Cancer Alliance.

According to their mission statement, the Lung Cancer Alliance "...is the only national non-profit organization dedicated solely to providing support and advocacy for people living with or at risk for the disease." Their mission "is to lead the movement to reverse decades of stigma and neglect by empowering patients, elevating awareness and changing health policy." This is something I can get behind, and I invite you to offer your help too.

Thank you for your support.  And don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!