LUNGevity Celebration of HOPE Program - Other - Page 4
President and CEO
LUNGevity Foundation
Andrea E. Ferris
Dear Friends,
On behalf of LUNGevity, thank you for being a part of our National
LUNGevity offers programs and services for anyone affected by lung
Celebration of Hope. While the COVID-19 crisis is keeping us from
cancer. We provide extensive educational resources, online peer-to-
being together today in person, it cannot stop us from celebrating
peer support, and in-person survivorship programs, while building a
progress for lung cancer patients and honoring those who have a
community of empowerment and hope.
meaningful impact on the lung cancer community.
Each year, we pay tribute to the tireless and unwavering dedication
This year there is much to celebrate and be hopeful about — so many
of individuals and businesses. This year, we are delighted to honor
advances in all areas of diagnosis and treatment. So far in 2020, we
super-advocate Jill Feldman, lung cancer patient and co-founder of
have seen 11 new lung cancer treatment approaches approved by the
patient group EGFR Resisters, outstanding volunteer Kathy Cuddy,
US FDA — and many more are in development. Guidelines for the
and the incredibly dedicated oncologist, Dr. Fred Smith. Today we
early detection of lung cancer are potentially being expanded so even
honor AstraZeneca for its corporate leadership in exemplifying
more people can be screened early, and we have seen a heightened
extraordinary commitment to improving outcomes for lung
focus on inclusion and diversity to ensure that ALL people diagnosed
cancer patients.
with lung cancer have access to optimal care.
I am so grateful to our event co-chairs, Brent Barnhardt, VP, UBS
Research is the key to these advances, resulting in improved
Private Management; Nancy Cohen, lung cancer patient and
survivorship and quality of life for people diagnosed with the disease.
advocate; Andre Owens, Partner, WIlmerHale, and LUNGevity Board
In 2020, we held our first virtual International Lung Cancer
Survivorship Conference, providing expert information, support, and
community for over 1,300 patients and caregivers from 38 countries.
Many of these participants were stage IV patients who would have
Member; and Natalie Cohen Smith, Sr. VP, Consero. My thanks also go
to our National Celebration of Hope sponsors and supporters. Your
generosity is appreciated by all of us working for a better future for
those affected by lung cancer.
been unable to travel to our in-person event, so we have decided
LUNGevity is moving forward toward a world where no one dies of
to continue holding a virtual event in addition to an in-person
lung cancer. With each passing year, your support is making this goal
conference going forward to better serve our patient population.
more attainable.
Since its founding, LUNGevity Foundation has helped change the
trajectory of the lung cancer community. Our impact can be seen in
Sincerely,
many ways: the successes of our research awardees, our collaboration
with Stand Up To Cancer on the first Lung Cancer Interception Dream
Team, the thousands of supporters who walk to raise awareness at
our grassroots Breathe Deep events, this year virtually, and the many
who have made more proactive, educated treatment decisions as a
result of our educational and support resources.
Andrea E. Ferris
President and CEO
LUNGevity Foundation