Laura Dern and CVS Health Support our COVID-19 Action Initiative
We are proud to share that award-winning actress and longtime supporter Laura Dern helped announce our new campaign with CVS Health to help end COVID-19. From June 21 – July 18, you can donate to help support our COVID-19 Action Initiative at any CVS Pharmacy location or online. One hundred percent of donations will go to the American Lung Association.
As you know, COVID-19 is an infection that attacks the lungs and has sickened and killed thousands, and there is so much we still don’t know about the disease. Funds raised will support COVID-19 research, education and advocacy and protect against future respiratory virus pandemics. Learn more at Lung.org/CVS..
We are Here for You During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Lung Association is your source for trusted information and resources to help us all get through this crisis together. Find the latest at our dedicated COVID-19 site: Lung.org/covid19. And you can talk to our experts at our free Lung HelpLine – 1-800-LUNGUSA or submit a question online. Also, check out our a COVID-19 PSA video and the new overview of our research and COVID-19. Be sure to follow our Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram social channels for the latest and share these timely resources to your network.
Check Out the New Film ‘Unbreathable: The Fight for Healthy Air’
The Lung Association supported the creation of a new, 30-minute documentary titled “Unbreathable: The Fight for Healthy Air.” The film was created by American University’s Center for Environmental Filmmaking and was also supported by AU’s Center for Environmental Policy. It premiered virtually on June 18 at the DC Environmental Film Festival. This compelling documentary looks at how far the nation has come in cleaning up harmful air pollution, and the work still left to do to ensure that every community breathes healthy air. The evening of the premiere, there was a virtual panel (which over 800 people registered for) moderated by Lung Association National Senior Vice President of Public Policy Paul Billings and featuring the film’s director, Maggie Burnette Stogner; Shashawnda Campbell, youth activist; Mustafa Santiago Ali, trailblazing environmental justice leader; Bill Reilly, former EPA Administrator; and Beth Gardiner, author of the book “Choked.” You can view the film by visiting the DC Environmental Film Festivals “Watch Now” page until the end of June. The link to watch the recorded panel will be on the film’s website, unbreathable.org.
Join a Virtual Event and Support the Lung Association
In this time of crisis, the Lung Association’s mission, including our COVID-19 Action Initiative, are more important than ever.
Because of COVID-19, we’re being safe by staying home, but your participation in a Lung Association fundraising event is critical so that we can continue our lifesaving work. Check out our list of events that have gone virtual.
LUNG CANCER
2020 Turquoise Takeover Celebration
LUNG FORCE’S annual Turquoise Takeover celebration united the nation in support of all those affected by lung disease, including lung cancer and COVID-19. Landmarks across the country turned turquoise, including One World Trade Center, Dover International Speedway’s Monster Monument, Bridgestone Arena (Nashville), and the TD Garden (Boston).
The 2020 National Lung Health Barometer- a new, nationally representative survey conducted by the American Lung Association and Cancer Treatment Centers of America® was released on June 16 and examined the awareness, attitudes and beliefs of 4,000 Americans about lung health and lung cancer. Learn more about how our Turquoise Takeover made an impact through new virtual activities.
RESEARCH
AWARDS TO KNOW: Dalsemer Award: This is a mentored award meant to provide start-up funds to junior investigators for researching the mechanisms and biology of interstitial lung disease. Junior investigators are awarded $50,000 per year for up to two years.
Meet Our Research Team: Katharina Maisel, Ph.D. of the University of Maryland-College Park, is using funds as a recipient of our Dalsemer Award to explore the use of immunotherapies for treating pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), a devastating progressive disease primarily affecting women of childbearing age.
HEALTH RESOURCES and SUPPORT
Join Our Better Breathers Club Network: Our Better Breathers Club program has connected people living with lung disease to education, support, and each other in communities around the country for over 40 years. In this time of social distancing, our clubs continue to help by going virtual! Join our Better Breathers Club Network to learn more and connect to one of our virtual group sessions.
HEALTHY AIR
Working for Stronger Particle Pollution Limits
Particle pollution (soot) is one of the deadliest forms of air pollution. But the EPA recently proposed to maintain the current, inadequate particulate matter pollution standards, rather than strengthen them to a level that would protect public health. At the end of May, EPA held a virtual public hearing on its proposal to maintain the current, inadequate national limits on particle pollution. A strong showing of nearly 60 Lung Association staff, volunteers and coalition partners testified in support of stronger standards. The Lung Association also led a letter to EPA from 15 national public health and medical organizations calling for EPA to grant more time to the public to comment on its proposal, given that health experts are responding to COVID-19. As a result, the comment period was extended to June 29! If you haven’t already, please sign our petition urging EPA to strengthen the standards. There are only a few days left, so add your voice now!
Lung Association Leads Virtual Congressional Visits on Climate and Health
In conjunction with the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health’s annual meeting, the Lung Association organized and helped lead a day of virtual visits with Congressional staff for the meeting participants. Through this partnership, over 90 physicians and other medical and health professionals educated over 60 Congressional offices about the health impacts of climate change and the urgent need to clean up emissions.
TOBACCO
World No Tobacco Day
May 31 was World No Tobacco Day and we joined local and national partners to empower teens to live tobacco-free. We encouraged communities to support implementation of our INDEPTH and N-O-T (Not-On-Tobacco) programs in their schools to address nicotine dependence among today’s youth. See all our resources to help tobacco user’s quit, or never start at all.
Each Breath Blog
Dr. Juanita Mora, one of our volunteer medical spokespeople, shares some insight about what those with allergies should expect during the COVID-19 pandemic, in our new blog “Debunking Myths About Seasonal Allergies and COVID-19.”
Your support makes everything we do possible!
COVID-19 is a worldwide health crisis – but that doesn’t mean that all other lung diseases have taken a break. While helping America through the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Lung Association is also hard at work addressing lung cancer, asthma, COPD and so much more. It’s your support that makes our diverse and lifesaving work possible. During this health crisis, your support is more important than ever because When You Can’t Breathe, Nothing Else Matters®
Blog last updated: August 21, 2023
