Phoenix Lung Cancer Advocate Travels to Washington, D.C. to Ask Congress for Increased Research Funding

Phoenix resident and lung cancer advocate, Rev. Jenny Wynn, will travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with her members of Congress during the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day on March 29. As a part of the nationwide event, Rev. Wynn will join more than 40 other people across the country who have been impacted by lung cancer to ask lawmakers to support $51 billion in research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $11.6B in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and to support and protect Medicaid.

“From that moment on I walk with them through treatments, hospital stays, ringing of bells, and for some I gather with the family and pray silently or out loud as the person takes their last breath.  It is a sacred journey to be invited to witness. It is often ugly and difficult, but also full of moments that are profound and awe inspiring because of the resilience of the human spirit.”

During Advocacy Day, Rev. Wynn will speak with her Senators and Representative to share her personal experience with lung cancer and explain why investments in public health, research funding and quality and affordable healthcare are important to her.

The American Lung Association launched LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day in 2016 to ask members of Congress to support robust, sustainable and predictable federal funding increases for lung cancer research, prevention and quality and affordable healthcare. As a part of Advocacy Day, LUNG FORCE Heroes have succeeded in helping increase NIH lung cancer research funding by over 115%. Since 2016, more than 50 new therapies have been approved by the FDA to treat lung cancer—giving more hope to those impacted by this disease. In 2022, Heroes successfully urged Congress to extend funding for tax credits so more than three million Americans were able to keep affordable healthcare coverage through the federal and state marketplaces.