Tampa Turns Turquoise for Lung Cancer Action Week

Next week, the American Lung Association in Florida is turning Tampa turquoise to raise awareness of lung cancer and encourage residents to take action to end the disease. The Lung Association is also celebrating the 10th anniversary of LUNG FORCE, a nationwide movement to end lung cancer.

The annual Lung Cancer Action Week and Turquoise Takeover celebration (May 6-12) unites America to stand together against lung cancer. Each year, the organization turns the nation turquoise, the signature color of LUNG FORCE, by illuminating buildings and landmarks across the U.S., encouraging the public to wear turquoise and post a selfie on social media, and by telling the stories of those impacted by lung cancer to raise awareness of the disease and save more lives.

Here in Tampa, the Lung Association is illuminating major landmarks and buildings turquoise, including Tampa City Hall, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa Riverwalk, Brorein Street Bridge, Kennedy Boulevard Bridge, Fortune Street Bridge and Platt Street Bridge. Local bakery Bake’n Babes is offering a special dessert to recognize Lung Cancer Action Week, with a portion of sales supporting the Lung Association’s mission to defeat lung cancer.

In commemoration, the City of Tampa and the City of Pinellas Park have declared proclamations for Lung Cancer Action Week, encouraging residents to learn more about lung cancer, risk factors and early detection and take action.

The American Lung Association shares seven actions people can take this week to help in efforts to end lung cancer:

1. Wear turquoise between May 6 and 12 and have conversations to raise awareness
2. Join the Gulf Coast Bike Trek in Clearwater on Saturday, October 5 to benefit those affected by lung cancer
3. Share your lung cancer story to raise awareness and inspire hope
4. Get screened for lung cancer if you are eligible
5. Test your home for radon
6. Learn about the latest educational information on lung cancer
7. Donate to help achieve a world free of lung cancer

“In 2024 alone, it is estimated that more than 18,500 Floridians will be diagnosed with lung cancer. But there is hope. We have seen incredible advancements in early diagnosis, treatment and survivorship from lung cancer. In fact, the five-year survival rate has increased by over 50% in the past decade,” said Beth Ash, chair of the Lung Association’s Gulf Coast Florida Board and operations manager, Corporate Accounts, at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Raising awareness and funds for lung cancer is more important than ever. We encourage our community to get involved in Lung Cancer Action Week.”

Through education, advocacy and research, LUNG FORCE is working to ensure that fewer people are diagnosed and those living with the disease live longer. Since 2014, LUNG FORCE has raised more than $30 million for lifesaving lung cancer research, expanding its research commitment by 286%.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, and about every two minutes, someone is diagnosed with the disease. Thankfully, survival rates of lung cancer have significantly increased in the last 10 years. This encouraging trend has been aided by improved early detection of the disease through lung cancer screening and advancements in research, which have resulted in more than 50 new lung cancer treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 2016.

Visit LUNGFORCE.org to learn how you can get involved during Lung Cancer Action Week and join the effort to end lung cancer.