Blindsided By Diagnosis, 42-year-old San Francisco Entrepreneur Raises Nearly $70,000 To Take Down Lung Cancer

William Marble Kipp II and Friends Join the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation's Army of Alliance Partners

SAN FRANCISCO, July 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Like many who rushed to Silicon Valley's Internet gold rush, William Marble Kipp II found fame fast and furious. First as an innovator in the early 1990's at Google, then launching his own renewable energy enterprise, nothing could stop this passionate 42-year-old trailblazer.

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Until last summer in August of 2011 when the never smoker, avid athlete and father of two was diagnosed with metastatic Lung Cancer.  In the months that have followed, with the help of his sister Kassidee, 29, and other family members, Kipp is working non-stop to spread awareness and raise funding for the cancer that kills more than 1.3 million worldwide annually and 450 per day in the United States.

On May 19, 2012, The William Marble Kipp II Foundation www.WMK2.com raised nearly $70,000 for the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (BJALCF) to help efforts to find a cure for Lung Cancer, at its inaugural fundraiser. The event was held at Bluxome Street Winery in the bustling SoMa district of San Francisco. More than 180 friends and family joined the Kipps to show support for Kipp and to mobilize with the Foundation to end Lung Cancer.

This pairing of the Kipp Foundation and the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation speaks volumes about the grassroots efforts and initiatives that are joining forces to lend their voice to help fight Lung Cancer. To date, and coast-to-coast, private foundations, independent fundraising initiatives, individuals, families and organizations have teamed up to build on the momentum of BJALCF. They include the Atlanta-based Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Fund (www.gaetafund.org) which "Dances for Joan" each year, Grow For The Cure (www.growforthecure.org) out of South Carolina which touts an innovative online adventure for men to grow beards in humorous shapes and names like "Zappa" and "Old Dutch" challenging support from friends online.  Mae's Breath (www.maesbreath.org) in New York inhales hope and exhales the stigma, Minnesota-hosted dinner parties in honor of a loved one, galas in Los Angeles, and the Hank Baskett Classic (www.hankbaskettclassic.org) Golf Tournament at Trump International gather thousands together to raise money for Lung Cancer research.

"I have always believed taking down Lung Cancer is going to take a village," says Bonnie J. Addario, founder and 8-year Lung Cancer survivor. "I couldn't be more thrilled that from SoHo to SoMa we've got an uprising and urgency in motion to collaborate in a celebratory way with courageous celebrity voices speaking up like Hank Baskett and Kendra Wilkinson. We're fighting for the lives of people like William and Hank's dad because what the world needs to know is that ANYONE CAN GET LUNG CANCER."

"This is just the beginning of what we want to do for Bonnie and the foundation," said Kassidee Kipp, organizer of the event. "When my brother was diagnosed he was blindsided. But we quickly decided that we wanted to do something to help others impacted by the disease and to help them know they are definitely not alone."

At the fundraiser, William's children, Katerina, 8, and William the III, who they call, "Mars," 6, sold bracelets they made themselves raising almost $1,200 in support of their dad and his battle with Lung Cancer, said Kassidee.

"His kids feel they need to do something to help their dad," she said. "They are going to fight to find a cure for their dad and others."

What's next? It's called "Fun-Raising"
The list of ways you can get involved is growing in leaps and bounds. Please jump on one of the bandwagons below or come up with your own. The Foundation is here to partner with you in many ways... your imagination has no limits. Lung Cancer does not stand a chance because all monies raised go directly to cutting-edge Lung Cancer research.

TUNE IN TOMORROW NIGHT to "Kendra ON TOP" (WE tv)  Tuesday, July 3
www.wetv.com/shows/kendra-on-top

TUNE INTO THE LUNG CANCER LIVING ROOM® EVERY THIRD TUESDAY
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-lung-cancer-living-room-support-group

BJALCF–Your Next Step is the Cure® 5ks across the country
www.yournextstepisthecure.org

Jill's Legacy®–Jog for Jills 5ks on College Campuses
www.jogforjill.com

Jill's Legacy®-Nick's Crispy Tacos fundraising Party-San Francisco, CA July 26
1500 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94109

THE GREAT LUNG RUN NYC to SF July 29
www.thegreatlungrun.com

Stride for Susie and Smita 5K Saratoga, CA August 26
www.strideforsusieandsmita.kintera.org

Taking Lung Cancer By Storm, Seattle Storm  Seattle, WA September 21
www.lungcancerfoundation.org

Cruise For Your Breath Baltimore, MD September 22
www.lungcancerfoundation.org

Fighting Barry 5K, Washington, DC September 23
www.fightingbarry.com

Fry's.com Open CordeValle Golf Course, CordeValle, CA October 8 -14
www.frysopen.com

A Next Step For The Cure In Honor of Fred Spanton Ashville, NC October 21
www.lungcancerfoundation.org

Palisano/Benson Lung Cancer Barrel Race Santa Rosa, CA November 4
www.2012memorialbarrelrace.kintera.org

Simply the Best Dinner Gala 7 San Francisco, CA November 10
www.lungcancerfoundation.org

For press inquiries, contact Sheila Von Driska, Communications, at 415.357.1278 or [email protected]

To host an event in your town, contact Jennifer Hughes, Manager of Affiliates and Independent Fundraisers, at 650.333.6936 or [email protected]

About the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation
BJALCF is one of the largest philanthropies (patient-founded, patient-focused, and patient-driven) devoted exclusively to eradicating Lung Cancer through research, early detection, education, and treatment. The Foundation works with a diverse group of physicians, organizations, industry partners, individuals, survivors, and their families to identify solutions and make timely and meaningful change. BJALCF was established on March 6, 2006 as a 501©(3) non-profit organization and has raised over nine million dollars for Lung Cancer research. www.lungcancerfoundation.org

About the William Marble Kipp II Foundation
The WMKII Foundation is dedicated to increasing awareness of Lung Cancer and funding research for advanced treatments for the disease. William was diagnosed with stage IV Lung Cancer in August of 2011 and is currently undergoing treatment.  In 2012 his family and friends established the WMKII Foundation in his honor. www.wmk2.org

SOURCE Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation