this makes my day complete today!!!

[RandyW]

Emory University Receives Largest Private Donation in Georgia History to Fund Lung Cancer Research

Highlights Need for Greater Lung Cancer Research Funding and Awareness

Nationwide

ATLANTA, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the largest donation

from a single event to benefit lung cancer research in Georgia was provided

to Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta. The $130,000

gift was made possible by the inaugural Every Breath You Take Golf

Tournament, which was founded and organized by lung cancer survivor Tammy

Willett and the Georgia Chapter of Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA-GA). The

donation will fund research in the field of lung cancer, the nation's

leading cancer killer.

"As a survivor, I am keenly aware of how this disease has been so

stigmatized and neglected," said Willett. "That is why I felt compelled to

put together this important event. Increased research funding is absolutely

critical to finding better treatment options and I am proud of what we have

achieved this year to help those impacted by this disease."

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death nationwide and in

Georgia, contributes to 30 percent of all cancer deaths. This year alone,

6,260 Georgians will be diagnosed with lung cancer -- 4,790 will die from

this disease. That is more than breast, prostate, colon, kidney, and skin

cancers combined. Moreover, the majority of those now being diagnosed with

lung cancer quit smoking decades ago or never smoked at all. Yet lung

cancer research funding and support for early detection has lagged far

behind all other major cancers.

"This is an historic moment for Georgia's lung cancer community, as

this kind of donation has never been received anywhere else in the state",

said Ed Levitt, LCA-GA chapter director. "This sets the stage for future

public and private collaboration to secure the necessary resources to

address lung cancer with compassion and support, as is done with every

other major disease. We have put lung cancer on the map in Georgia."

The gift was presented to Dr. Fadlo Khuri, Chief of Hematology and

Medical Oncology at Winship Cancer Institute, and Deputy Director for

Clinical and Translational Research. The funds will be directed exclusively

to Dr. Khuri's lung cancer research.

Lung Cancer Alliance (http://www.lungcanceralliance.org) is the only

national non-profit organization solely dedicated to patient support and

advocacy for the lung cancer community. LCA's mission is to lead the

movement to reverse decades of stigma and neglect by empowering those with

or at risk for the disease, elevating awareness and changing health policy.

SOURCE Lung Cancer Alliance

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[Connie B]

[sharonjo]

Randy,

That is soooo cool! Thanks for posting.

Sharon