In the summer of 2001, our world turned upside down when our lovely and phenomenal Deloris was diagnosed with lung cancer. Still young and vibrant at 53, Deloris had never struggled with health problems of any kind. She was physically fit and active, a healthy eater, and a lifelong never-smoker.

Throughout her 14-month lung cancer journey, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers often expressed shock and even sympathy over her diagnosis. Years of training and practice led them to believe lung cancer should not invade the body of a woman like Deloris. But while her case was considered rare at the time, research over the ensuing years has shown that 10-20 percent of people who develop lung cancer have never smoked, just like Deloris.

Thankfully, the past decade has brought a wave of groundbreaking advancements in the scientific understanding and treatment of lung cancer. Researchers have found that smokers and non/never-smokers tend to develop different types of lung cancer, and that the latter group is more likely to develop lung cancer caused by a genetic mutation or abnormality that doctors can target for treatment. Such findings have improved the quality of life and long-term survivability for many patients. Still, there is an urgent need for additional life-saving breakthroughs which can only happen with increased funding for lung cancer research, awareness, education, and patient programs.

That’s why your donation to Lung Cancer Connection is critical. LCC was founded in 2009 to provide information, resources, and hope – a lifeline that didn’t exist for Deloris in 2001. So, in memory of her beautiful life and in support of today’s patients and survivors, we invite you to join our team for this year’s Run. Walk. BREATHE. No one deserves lung cancer. Every lung deserves a cure.

Thank you for having a heart for lung cancer awareness!

Team Dedicated to Deloris