At the time, “there really weren’t any lung cancer foundations at all,” says Linda Wenger, chief marketing officer of the organization. In 2010, LUNGevity jumped in size and scope when it teamed up with Protect Your Lungs, an organization founded in 2008 by the family of Patricia A. Stern, who died of the disease. Today, Andrea Ferris, Stern’s daughter, serves as LUNGevity’s president and CEO, and their mission is as strong as ever. Their Goal “Because of the incredible advances in precision medicine and immunotherapy for lung cancer, we have people living longer and we want to help them live better lives,” Wenger says. “We’re also very focused on moving the science forward so that we can deliver some of the advances to patients.” Services They Provide LUNGevity offers a wide range of services to patients and survivors. Among them: Educational booklets and brochures are available, many in both English and Spanish, as well as free-to-access information on their website covering everything from the stages of lung cancer, screening, biomarker testing, and more. Their site also offers a video and webinar library, featuring experts discussing different subjects within lung cancer, recordings from past events, and survivors sharing personal stories. “Our website is, I would say, the best resource you’ll find anywhere on lung cancer,” Wenger says. LUNGevity also provides support services to those who have been diagnosed with lung cancer, including their Lung Cancer HELPline, where patients and caregivers can speak with an oncology social worker, and their LifeLine Support Program, a peer-to-peer mentorship that connects people to other patients or caregivers. “We match you with somebody who has a similar diagnosis to you, who’s further along in their journey, and who can help you through different aspects of your treatment or clinical trials, or whatever it might be,” Wenger says. Additionally, LUNGevity hosts virtual meetups every weekday, with each day having a different focus or activity. You can find a list of their current schedule and register for a meetup on their website. Events Each spring, LUNGevity hosts their HOPE Summit, an in-person conference where patients and survivors can gather. “That’s a really important place for people to come and meet other people with lung cancer,” Wenger says. “[Lung cancer is] such an isolating disease, and there’s so few support groups, and the stigma has kept people from reaching out.” For those who would prefer not to gather in person due to COVID-19, LUNGevity now offers their International Lung Cancer Survivorship Conference, a virtual event where attendees can hear from lung cancer experts about the latest research, treatment options, and more. “We can serve a larger group of people who may not be able to travel, who may have health issues, or financial issues, and we can bring the experts to them online,” Wenger says. This year, the conference is taking place in mid-July and registration is still open. You can also watch videos from last year’s conference on their website. Find more information about the HOPE Summit, the international conference, and other LUNGevity events on their events page. Core Belief “We believe in a world where no one dies of lung cancer,” Wenger says. “We believe that the survival rate will continue to grow, and that the advancements in science will continue to pile up and advance.”
