LOCAL Virtual Fundraiser to Support Lung Cancer, Lung Disease and COVID-19 Initiative

The American Lung Association is launching its 6th annual LUNG FORCE Walk New Jersey as a virtual fundraising and awareness event and will also honor Lung Champion Dr. Roslyn (Roz) Schneider. Throughout September, participants will share stories, become lung advocates and improve their own lung health while honoring loved ones affected by lung cancer, COVID and other lung disease. Spreading awareness and completing the LUNG FORCE Walk Bridgewater in their own neighborhood – all while raising funds for lung cancer, COVID and lung disease research. On September 26th, the event will conclude with a virtual ceremony and highlight reel of the month’s activities along with prizes for participants and awards for top fundraisers, top teams and more.

This virtual event enables hundreds of registrants from New Jersey and nearby regions to come together and raise funds supporting life-saving research as well as providing education and advocacy for lung cancer, lung diseases such as COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis and respiratory illnesses such as influenza, pneumonia and now COVID-19. A portion of the funds raised during the virtual LUNG FORCE Walk New Jersey will help support the Lung Association’s COVID-19 Action Initiative; a $25 million initiative to end COVID-19 and prevent future respiratory virus pandemics.

“We’re grateful for the participants that will join us in the virtual event in support of lung disease research. Now more than ever is when our community needs to come together, virtually, to end COVID-19, lung cancer and all lung disease. This is a way that we can do that right here in New Jersey and support our community and LUNG FORCE Heroes and Lung Champions like Roz, who make important contributions to defeat lung cancer and lung disease through their work,” said Karen Isky, senior development director of the Lung Association in New Jersey.  

The COVID-19 Action Initiative will be used to expand the Lung Association’s ongoing respiratory research program, enhance key public health measures, and establish an advanced network to stop future respiratory virus pandemics. The initiative will also work with public and private entities to increase research collaboration and develop new vaccines, detection tests and treatment therapies.

This year’s LUNG FORCE Lung Champion Honoree and Westchester County, NY resident Roz Schneider M.D., MSC, FACP, FCCP spent many years working in internal medicine, pulmonary and critical care academic and clinical practice at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York treating people living with lung disease. Schneider became interested in pulmonary growing up with concern about her father who was a smoker. She later became involved in the LUNG FORCE Walk in honor of her uncle and patients lost to lung cancer. 

Schneider, currently a medical and patient Affairs independent consultant, said “I'm humbled by this honor from the American Lung Association in New Jersey. The tireless efforts by the organization, its members and generous supporters who share their stories, their time, and donations are truly the force in LUNG FORCE!  I'm grateful that I've had the opportunity to care for people living with lung disease throughout my career in practice, the pharmaceutical industry, and advocacy. I look forward to continuing my commitment, and seeing what medicine, science, and human connection continues to breathe into advancing lung health!”

Dr. Roz Images Here.

In order to make this year’s event as interactive as possible we’ve created a LUNG FORCE Walk Bridgewater Strava Club LUNG FORCE Walk Bridgewater Strava Club, a free application you can download on your smart phone and track your miles in support of the American Lung Association. The distance that each registrant chooses can be completed on their own time and at the location of their choice. In addition to recording physical activity, registrants will participate in friendly challenges to create awareness for lung health and become eligible to earn prizes.

Official 2020 LUNG FORCE Virtual Walk medals will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place distance Strava finishers, as well as, the top fundraisers.

The virtual LUNG FORCE Walk New Jersey major sponsors are Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s only NCI designated cancer center, RWJBarnabas Health and Hackensack Meridian Health.  In addition, we welcome University Radiology Group, Unified, GSK and Janssen Pharmaceutical as event sponsors.

REGISTRATION:  Participation is free. However, LUNG FORCE Walk is a fundraising event and all participants are encouraged to raise donations to support lung disease research including the Lung Association’s COVID-19 Action Initiative, and early detection, advocacy, education and awareness for lung cancer. All participants to raise or donate $100 or more receive an Official LUNG FORCE Walk t-shirt. To register, visit LUNGFORCE.org/bridgewater. For questions or additional event information, contact Shannon Myre at [email protected] or 908-952-0032.

For media interested in speaking with a lung health expert or advocate, a LUNG FORCE hero or scheduling an interview and requesting images, contact Val Gleason at [email protected] or 717-971-1123.