Charlotte Lung Cancer Advocate To Meet with Congress to Advocate for Lifesaving Research, Public Health Infrastructure and Access to Quality Healthcare

Born and raised Charlotte resident and lung cancer advocate, Madeline Hughes, spoke with her members of Congress last week during the American Lung Association LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day. As a part of the nationwide event, Hughes joined more than 50 people across the country who have been impacted by lung cancer to advocate for $49 billion in research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $11B in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and to protect expanded access to quality, affordable healthcare.

Due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 Advocacy Day was conducted virtually to allow this important message to be heard while also protecting the health and safety of patients and caregivers. During the virtual Advocacy Day, Hughes spoke with Senator Richard Burr, Senator Thom Tillis, and Congressman Dan Bishop 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. 

Hughes learned of her mother’s lung cancer diagnosis while she was away at college. For the next three years, her mom went through many treatments- chemo, radiation, surgeries. Despite all her fighting, her mother passed away in 2008. “I would do anything to still have her here. I want to share my day with her, get her advice, eat her homemade bread, watch Gilmore Girls together. She wanted her grandkids Eloise and James to call her Grandmama. She picked the name Eloise and I remember how we all loved the Eloise at the Plaza books and watched the movie together too,” reflects Hughes.

Hughes strongly believes that if lung cancer is caught at an early stage, it will be more treatable. That is why Hughes is excited to share her own story during LUNG FORCE Advocacy. “I want to encourage our state leaders to help fund early detection programs and more lung cancer research so that other families don’t have to go through what mine did,” remarks Hughes.

It is estimated that in 2022 alone, there will be more than 8,760 people in North Carolina diagnosed with lung cancer, but there is hope. More people than ever are surviving lung cancer in part because patients and caregivers are urging their policymakers to take action. That’s why Hughes is sharing her story with lawmakers and others — so that more can be done to help lung cancer patients and their caregivers throughout the United States and in North Carolina. 

Madeline Hughes encourages others in North Carolina to advocate for lung cancer research and healthcare protections by contacting their members of Congress, which they can do at Lungforce.org/AdvocacyDay. Learn more about Hughes’s story and the LUNG FORCE initiative at LUNGFORCE.org.

For media interested in learning more about LUNG FORCE or scheduling an interview with Madeline Hughes or a lung cancer expert, contact Jill Smith, [email protected] or call 704-818-4138.