Free to Breathe 5K events Raise Funding and Awareness of Lung Cancer

Raleigh, NC—Early morning rain showers did nothing to deter the more than 900 participants who walked and ran in the second annual Duke Cancer Center Raleigh Free to Breathe® 5K Run/Walk and Rally for lung cancer at North Carolina State Centennial Campus Saturday. The event, which was organized by the North Carolina Lung Cancer Partnership, was dedicated to raising funding and awareness of the number one cancer killer in this country.

Young lung cancer survivor and college student, Taylor Bell, was among those running in the Raleigh race despite her diminished lung capacity from surgery to remove much of her left lung last year. The 22-year-old lifelong nonsmoker is an involved member and spokesperson for the North Carolina Lung Cancer Partnership, the first state chapter of the National Lung Cancer Partnership.

Amy Cipau, President of the North Carolina chapter said the second annual Raleigh Free to Breathe® 5K event was a great success, raising more than $100,000. The inaugural Triad Free to Breathe® 5K Run/Walk and Rally Saturday November 15 at Grandover Parkway, Greensboro, the organization reached its goal of more than $150,000 to benefit lung cancer research. Donations will be accepted through November.

. "We are very excited to be on track to meet our fundraising goals and to have this opportunity to raise awareness of lung cancer, which kills more people than any other cancer, but receives less funding," said Cipau.

Cipau also said the group was grateful to Duke Raleigh, the title sponsor of the event, to media partner NBC-17 and to the many sponsors, participants and volunteers who made the event possible.

"We are happy people feel so strongly about this cause that they braved the rain Saturday morning to participate in our event, " said Cipau. "Once the sun came out, it was a beautiful day for the race."

The North Carolina Lung Cancer Partnership is the first state chapter of the National Lung Cancer Partnership, the only nonprofit lung cancer advocacy organization founded by physicians and researchers dedicated to increasing lung cancer awareness and research funding. In addition to the North Carolina Free to Breathe® events, the North Carolina chapter also sponsors an annual yogathon in December and an evening reception in the spring at the Duke University Nasher Art Museum.

Related Links

1. Free To Breathe Website
2. National Lung Cancer Parnership in NC
3. Duke-Raleigh Hospital