Today, I joggled my seventh 5k. Many of the races I have run raise money for various causes. In the past month or so, I have joggled several races with Team Catch It Early specifically for races that raise support and awareness for cancer. Obviously, all types of cancer are serious, deadly, and require funding and research, but lung cancer stands out for me because I lost my father to this disease less than 3 years ago.
Earlier this week, I discovered the Hank Thompson Trek and Treat 5k which honors the Hendersonville mayor who died from lung cancer last year and raises money for Uniting Against Lung Cancer.
The mission of Uniting Against Lung Cancer is to fight lung cancer by funding innovative research and increasing awareness of the disease. In only six years of funding, Uniting and its partners have awarded over $5 million dollars in direct research grants to individual researchers at top cancer centers and raised awareness of lung cancer across the United States. The first nonprofit in the U.S. to identify and cultivate lung cancer research, Uniting has quickly become recognized as the “venture capital” source for lung cancer research in the U.S.
Uniting carries out is mission by:
- Awarding individual research grants
- Promoting and recognizing excellence in journalism about lung cancer to increase awareness about the disease
- Collaborating with other not-for-profit organizations seeking a cure for lung cancer
- Ending the smoking-related stigma that plagues victims of lung cancer diagnosis
Although the race is over (and I hope to have a race report up soon), you can still donate to Uniting Against Lung Cancer through my runner profile page.
