Atlanta Community Makes Strides to End Lung Cancer, Raising More Than $75K at 10th Annual LUNG FORCE Walk

This morning, more than 400 lung health advocates from across the Atlanta area laced up their gym shoes to stomp out lung disease at the American Lung Association in Georgia’s LUNG FORCE Walk at Atlantic Station Green Space. Participants raised more than $75,000 this year to fund the Lung Association’s mission to end lung cancer and lung disease.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the festive fundraiser and the LUNG FORCE initiative in Atlanta, which unites those impacted by lung cancer and their caregivers to stand together against lung cancer. Including the funds raised at today’s event, the Atlanta LUNG FORCE Walk has raised more than $825,000 in total to fuel the American Lung Association’s efforts to save lives through research, education and advocacy here in Georgia and beyond.

“For the past ten years, the Atlanta community has rallied at our LUNG FORCE Walk to make a difference in the lives of people facing lung cancer and lung disease,” said Dr. Jannifer Harper, chair of the Lung Association’s Georgia Leadership Board. “Thank you to our participants, volunteers, sponsors and LUNG FORCE Heroes who came together today to celebrate and spread hope. Together, we raised awareness and critical funding to help find a cure for lung cancer and save lives.”

Nearly 1 million people in the Atlanta metropolitan area suffer from lung disease, including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. In Georgia, it is estimated that more than 7,600 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year, and more than 4,000 people will die from the disease.

However, there is hope. More people in the U.S. than ever are surviving lung cancer. The survival rate has increased by nearly 40 percent in the last decade. Funding research, encouraging lung cancer screening and reducing stigma around the disease is the key to unlocking a future free of lung cancer.

Thank you to our local LUNG FORCE Walk sponsors, including Northside Hospital, Raymond James, Wellstar Health System and Circulogene. Thank you to our national corporate team partner, Kindred Hospitals.

For more information about the event and to donate, visit LUNGFORCE.org/Atlanta.