Portland Lung Cancer Survivor to Travel to Washington, D.C. to Ask Congress for Increased Research Funding

Portland resident and lung cancer survivor Glenna Marshall will travel to 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, long-term lung cancer advocate Marshall 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.

Marshall, whose family has been touched repeatedly by lung cancer, is a passionate advocate for education and awareness about the disease. “Our family legacy with lung cancer continued even after my two rounds of treatment. After losing our grandfather, two uncles and our beautiful youngest sister, our brother was diagnosed and treated for the disease just prior to the COVID-19 crisis, which put him at additional risk. Fortunately, my brother and I are currently in the ‘survivor column,” said Marshall.

“I am thankful for the advancements and progress made since my first diagnosis. Lung cancer screening and new therapeutic drug treatments in the last decade have given us HOPE, and increased numbers in the survivor column. Today, I am proud to be a Lung Force Hero and a volunteer with the American Lung Association.”

During Advocacy Day, Marshall will speak with members of the Oregon 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 her and so many like her.

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.

Glenna encourages others in Oregon 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 Glenna’s story and the LUNG FORCE initiative at LUNGFORCE.org.