Save the date for one of the few run/walks that takes place right on the beach! This is not your everyday 5K. The American Lung Association in South Carolina will host its annual LUNG FORCE Run/Walk on Saturday, October 21st, at the Dunes House in Folly Beach County Park. This family-friendly event, presented by Atlantic Respiratory Services, is known for its celebratory and welcoming atmosphere – participants are eager to defeat lung cancer and lung disease one step at a time.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Charleston LUNG/FORCE Run/Walk campaign, and fundraising support has grown by 60 percent in that time. This event funds lifesaving lung cancer research, early detection initiatives and awareness outreach to vulnerable communities.
More than 102,000 people in the Charleston area suffer from lung disease, including lung cancer, COPD and asthma. This year alone, more than 4,600 residents of South Carolina are estimated to be diagnosed with lung cancer, and more than 2,600 deaths from lung cancer are predicted.
While lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., there is hope. More Americans 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.
WHAT: 10th annual Charleston LUNG FORCE Run/Walk
WHO: Hundreds of families, friends and co-workers from the Charleston community, including lung disease survivors and loved ones. Runners and walkers of all fitness levels are welcome to participate in this community event for celebration, education and comradery. Registration is open.
WHEN: Saturday, October 21; Check-in begins at 8 a.m.; Run/Walk kicks off at 9 a.m.
WHERE: The Dunes House, Folly Beach County Park, 1100 W Ashley Ave., Folly Beach, SC 29439
WHY: The fundraising goal for this year’s Charleston LUNG FORCE Run/Walk is $95,000. Funds raised at the event will support the Lung Association’s efforts to save lives through research, education and advocacy.
For more information and to register for the Charleston LUNG FORCE Run/Walk, visit LUNGFORCE.org/Charleston.
