CVS/pharmacy Extends Commitment to Helping People Live Tobacco-Free Lives with New In-store Fundraising Campaign to Support the American Lung Association

WOONSOCKET, R.I., June 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS/pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Caremark Corporation, today announced an in-store fundraising campaign to help fight the #1 cancer killer of women – lung cancer. Funds raised through the campaign will benefit LUNG FORCE, a new initiative to make lung cancer in women a public health priority, drive policy change and increase research funding. From now through June 29, CVS/pharmacy customers will have the opportunity to contribute to LUNG FORCE at the register in stores nationwide or online at www.cvs.com/lung with all proceeds going to support the movement. CVS Caremark is the national presenting sponsor of LUNG FORCE.  

According to the American Lung Association's inaugural Women's Lung Health Barometer, a survey of more than 1,000 American adult women that measures women's knowledge and perceptions about lung cancer, women's awareness of lung cancer's impact is terribly low. Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer of women, yet only one percent of women cite it as a cancer that is top-of-mind. Hundreds of thousands of women are affected by lung cancer every year, and two-thirds of lung cancer cases are in those who have never smoked or have successfully quit smoking. The Barometer also revealed 78 percent of women are not aware that lung cancer has killed more women than breast cancer since 1987.

Through LUNG FORCE, CVS Caremark and the American Lung Association seek to unite women against lung cancer and for lung health, and encourage them to raise their voices for change. Through nationwide efforts, LUNG FORCE will make lung cancer a cause that people care about and act on, educate and empower patients and health care providers, and raise critical funds for lung cancer research. 

"Through the LUNG FORCE movement and support from CVS/pharmacy, its colleagues and its customers, we will increase awareness and education of lung cancer in women and make it a public health priority," said Harold Wimmer, National President and CEO, American Lung Association. "Through the funds raised during the in-store campaign at CVS/pharmacy, we'll be able to change our thinking about this disease and raise critical funds for lung cancer research."

"When our company announced in February that we would stop the sale of tobacco products at our 7,600 CVS/pharmacy locations, we also made a commitment to align ourselves with community partners on programs that are helping people lead tobacco-free lives," said Helena Foulkes, President, CVS/pharmacy. "The American Lung Association shares in our purpose of helping people on their path to better health, and through our partnership and in-store fundraising campaign supporting LUNG FORCE, we will be able to make a significant impact in educating our customers about the prevalence of lung cancer in women."

CVS Caremark colleagues will also engage in the LUNG FORCE initiative by participating in local LUNG FORCE events across the country. Earlier this year, CVS Caremark announced its decision to remove tobacco from its more than 7,600 retail stores by October 1, 2014, making them the first national retail pharmacy chain in the country to do so.

To learn more about the in-store fundraising campaign or to make a donation, please visit www.cvs.com/lung.

About the American Lung Association
Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is "Fighting for Air" through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.lung.org.

About CVS Caremark 
CVS Caremark is dedicated to helping people on their path to better health as the largest integrated pharmacy company in the United States. Through the Company's more than 7,600 retail pharmacy stores; its leading pharmacy benefit manager serving more than 64 million plan members; and its retail health clinic system, the largest in the nation with more than 800 MinuteClinic locations, it is a market leader in mail order, retail and specialty pharmacy, retail clinics, and Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans. As a pharmacy innovation company, CVS Caremark continually strives to improve health and lower costs by developing new approaches such as its unique Pharmacy Advisor program that helps people with chronic diseases such as diabetes obtain and stay on their medications. Find more information about CVS Caremark at http://info.cvscaremark.com/.

Media Contacts:
Joanne Dwyer, CVS/pharmacy
(401) 770-2898 (office)
(401) 477-0321 (cell) 
[email protected]

Eva Pereira, RF|Binder
(781) 559-0424 
[email protected]

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SOURCE CVS Caremark