American Lung Association Names Philadelphia Native James Sanders 2024 Fight For Air Climb Philadelphia Chair

The American Lung Association in Pennsylvania names James Sanders, Sr. Vice President, Commercial Lending at Univest Bank & Trust Company as the 2024 Fight For Air Climb Philadelphia Chair. The Fight For Air Climb Philadelphia in its 18th year, is a top fundraising event that draws nearly 1,000 participants and raises more than $250,000 annually.

The Lung Association Fight For Air Climbs are signature fundraising events held in 38 locations across the country and unite people to stand together for lung health while they climb iconic skyscrapers and stadiums. With friends and family, firefighters and first responders, and the corporate community, the celebratory atmosphere of hope and positivity supports people who struggle to breath every day. The Fight For Air Climbs help raise funds to support the 34.1 million people (including more than 1.54 million in Pennsylvania) living with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and many other lung diseases.

"We are delighted to name James Sanders as the 2024 Fight for Air Climb Philadelphia Chair,” said Caroline Hutchinson, Executive Director at the American Lung Association in Pennsylvania. “James brings a wealth of knowledge, fresh ideas and a passion to raise critical funds to protect the lung health of Greater Philadelphia.”

Born and raised in Philadelphia, James lives with lung disease of which he was diagnosed with chronic asthma at 6-months old. His inspirational story of perseverance includes competing in multiple varsity football, track & field and wrestling at Olney High School. He went on to play  college football, and eventually  professional football for the Arena 2 Football League. After college, he pursued a career in finance and now has nearly 25 years of experience in business, finance, and management. He has served in a leadership capacity on many non-profit boards of directors and currently serves on the American Lung Association’s Local Leadership Board of Greater Philadelphia.

As chair of the 2024 Fight For Air Climb Philadelphia, Sanders will lead a team of executives to recruit corporations, small & mid-sized businesses, firefighters & other front-line heroes, families and friends to reach a lifesaving fundraising goal of $275,000. “I am dedicated to the Lung Association mission and look forward to chairing the 2024 Fight for Air Climb Philadelphia to raise funds and awareness for the lung health of Greater Philadelphia,” said Sanders. “Over the past three years, the Lung Association has funded over $1.54 million dollars in the Philadelphia area for lung disease research with awards going to Temple Lung Center, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, the Wistar Institute and the University of Pennsylvania,” said Sanders.

Celebrating 120 years in 2024, the Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through research, education and advocacy. Dedicated to supporting healthy lungs and clean air through initiatives, events and programs such as Asthma Basics, Open Airways for Schools and the Asthma Educator Institute, the Lung Association works to serve individuals and communities across the nation and help millions of Americans each day.

The 2024 Fight For Air Climb Philadelphia will take place on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Three Logan Square with a fundraising goal to exceed $275,000.  For more information on how to support the mission and save lives, you can register, create a team or sign up to volunteer at the event at FightForAirClimb.org/philadelphia.

For media interested in speaking with James Sanders and/or a lung health expert or creating Climb team, contact Val Gleason at the American Lung Association at [email protected] or 717-971-1123.