New Mexico Lung Cancer Advocate In Washington, D.C. to Ask Congress for Increased Research Funding

New Mexico resident and lung cancer advocate, James Brown is in Washington, D.C. to meet with his members of Congress during the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day on March 29. As a part of the nationwide event, he 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), $11.6 billion in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and to support and protect Medicaid.

Brown is a LUNG FORCE Hero – someone whose life has been directly touched by lung cancer. His lung cancer journey began when his beloved grandmother Mary Genie was diagnosed with lung cancer.

“Over the next 9 months of her life, I was able to be my grandmother’s caregiver. I would accompany her to the grocery store and pharmacy to pick up her medications. Her spirits were always high even though she was in a lot of pain and very sick inside. I was able to be with her at her hospital bedside as she took her last breath on this earth. At that time in her life when she was fighting for her life, I was able to go ‘All In.’ As a family, we were there for her when she needed it the most,” said Brown.

“She was the reason why I became a health care worker and have a Doctor of Pharmacy. As a pharmacist, I continue her fight against lung cancer and affordable health care for all. I encourage all of us to make a difference in each other’s lives by stepping up and going ‘All In’ when a patient or family member needs you the most.”  

During Advocacy Day, Brown will speak with members of the New Mexico Congressional delegation, or their staff, to share her personal experiences with lung cancer and explain why investments in public health, research funding and quality and affordable healthcare are important to him and so many like him.

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.

James encourages others in New Mexico to advocate for lung cancer research and healthcare protections by contacting their members of Congress, which they can do at Lung.org/AdvocacyDay. Learn more about James’ story and the LUNG FORCE initiative at LUNGFORCE.org.