Lung cancer rocked our lives 23 years ago when our beloved Deloris received her shocking diagnosis – shocking because doctors had spent months treating her for bronchitis that turned out to be a stage three adenocarcinoma!

No one fathomed that Deloris was at risk for lung cancer. She was only 53 years old and had never smoked, or lived or worked in smoke-filled environments. She had no family history of lung cancer -- in fact, she had been healthy and fit her entire life. Suddenly, she was struggling to breathe. 

Thankfully, Deloris was blessed with mental toughness, optimism, and an enormous faith to guide her during her cancer journey. She followed doctors’ orders and did everything within her power to regain her health, including enduring multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation that often left her depleted but not defeated. Yet despite tremendous courage, Deloris couldn’t help wondering at times if she had done something wrong to cause her cancer. All these years later, the reason for her cancer is still a mystery, but one fact remains unchanged: Deloris did not deserve lung cancer and no one else does either!

Unfortunately, over 230,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year in America. While there’s never been a good time to get lung cancer, diagnoses and treatments today are more effective than at any time in the past. And with expanded research, early detection, and public awareness, the overall survival rate has increased, too.

That’s why your donation to Lung Cancer Connection is critical to winning the fight against lung cancer. LCC was founded in 2009 to provide information, resources, and hope – a lifeline that didn’t exist for Deloris back in 2001. In memory of her beautiful but all-too-brief life, and in support of patients and survivors in St. Louis and across the nation, we invite you to join our team for this year’s Run. Walk. BREATHE. Remember, if you have lungs, you can get lung cancer. 

Thank you for having a heart for lung cancer awareness!

Team Dedicated to Deloris