Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Vigils Highlight Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Lung Cancer Alliance Thanks Volunteers for Hosting over 90 Vigils

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) proudly announces the 4^th Annual Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Vigil.  Started over seven years ago, the Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Vigil has grown into the largest nationally and internationally coordinated awareness event for lung cancer with over 90 Vigils taking place in the U.S. and more throughout Australia, Brazil and Egypt.

Today and throughout Lung Cancer Awareness Month, volunteers and participants will join together in a national call to action to reduce lung cancer by 50% by the end of the decade. Through personal stories from survivors and caregivers, local resources from healthcare professionals, the Vigils will ignite a national dialogue about lung cancer.

"The Vigils are grassroots events in the truest sense," said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, LCA President & CEO. "We applaud our volunteer Vigil organizers for stepping up and taking the lead in raising compassion and support for those impacted by lung cancer in their communities. Bravo."

LCA is joined by The Australian Lung Foundation in Brisbane, Australia; Albert Einstein Israeli Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil; and CanSurvive in Cairo, Egypt. Their participation has made this event global.

"We are so very excited to be hosting a Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Vigil here in Cairo. We jumped at the opportunity to be part of the international event," said Nahla Elewa, organizer for CanSurvive's vigil. "I believe the vigil will be very successful here and we will be able to raise awareness about lung cancer, which is much needed. This is truly a great initiative."

For many, the recognition of all those affected by this disease through a moment of silence, an acknowledgment of survivors or a slideshow tribute is the most moving part of the vigil.

"Everyone really appreciates the meaning behind the night. I cannot thank you enough for the work the Lung Cancer Alliance does. I lost both my grandmothers to stage IV lung cancer six weeks apart and it has been hard for me ever since. It is my goal to fight back for them and this organization means a lot to me," said Nicole Ramos, an organizer in Binghamton, NY.

For a list complete list of Vigils, visit www.shinealightonlungcancer.org. Sign up today!

LCA gratefully recognizes the National Vigil sponsors, Lilly Oncology, The Safeway Foundation and Life Technologies.

About Lung Cancer Alliance

Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA), www.lungcanceralliance.org, is committed to ending injustice and saving lives through an alliance of advocacy, education and support. LCA provides live, real time support, referral and information services for patients, their loved ones, and those at risk for lung cancer conducts national awareness campaigns; and advocates for multiple millions in public health dollars for lung cancer research.

Follow Lung Cancer Alliance on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lungcanceralliance. Follow us on Twitter: @LCAorg.

Media Contact:
Kay Cofrancesco
[email protected]
302-521-5716

SOURCE Lung Cancer Alliance