‘Survivor Squad’ Unites Jacksonville Lung Cancer Survivors to Raise Awareness, Funds for Life-Saving Research

This Summer, lung cancer survivors will come together to raise awareness for lung cancer screening and funds for research through the American Lung Association’s “Survivor Squad” at their annual LUNG FORCE Run/Walk on August 21. 

For the “Survivor Squad,” the Lung Association will honor local lung cancer survivors and raise awareness for the availability of and need for lung cancer screening and treatment in the Greater Jacksonville area. The organization is working with local hospitals and screening centers to nominate people for the “Survivor Squad,” but is also asking for nominations from the public. 

For Dr. Catherine Madaffari, an internal medicine specialist at Jacksonville’s Mayo Clinic, and one of the founding members of the “Survivor Squad,” this is personal. 

“On August 3rd, 2015, I had surgery to remove the lung cancer and could not have done it without the support and love from my amazing three children, friends and colleagues,” she said. “The ‘Survivor Squad’ offers a different type of connection and support. It means we are making progress in our fight against lung cancer and that there is strength in numbers when we rally together to ask for better screening tools and increased funding for diagnosis and treatment. The ‘Survivor Squad’ offers support, hope and understanding of the fears and anguish that often occur days, weeks or even six years post treatment. I would encourage those survivors and those that feel that they would benefit from a little extra support to reach out and join us on August 21.”

The “Survivor Squad” will be recognized at the annual LUNG FORCE Run Walk, happening on August 21 at the Haskell Company. For the event, participants will run or walk a 5K along the St. Johns River to help raise awareness and funds to end lung cancer and lung disease. 

For more information, and to nominate someone for the “Survivor Squad,” contact Bethany Webb at [email protected] 

Money raised at the LUNG FORCE Run/Walk will fund the Lung Association’s efforts to end lung cancer and lung disease, as well as support the organization’s COVID-19 Action Initiative. Registration for the Jacksonville LUNG FORCE Run/Walk is $30 for adults and $25 for children. For more information and to register, visit LUNGFORCE.org/Jacksonville.