The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation Salutes Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense

Hagel passed pivotal lung cancer legislation and has been personally impacted by the disease

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bonnie J. Addario and the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation salute and applaud Chuck Hagel's nomination and Senate confirmation as the 24^th United States Secretary of Defense. Hagel has been directly affected by lung cancer – his mother died from the disease.

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"On behalf of all Lung Cancer patients, we are indebted to President Barack Obama for nominating Chuck to the position of the United States Secretary of Defense. Chuck Hagel has been a tireless lung cancer advocate in not only our fight against this deadly disease, but supporting our work for meaningful education and research," said, Bonnie J. Addario, founder of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation. "We applaud the Senate for confirming a worthy leader to defend and protect our country."

Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer, killing more people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, melanoma and kidney cancer combined.

The Foundation first became aware of Senator Chuck Hagel's efforts in the war against lung cancer in 2005 through Hagel's sponsorship of the first ever bi-partisan, bi-cameral resolutions bill (The Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act). The bill was co-sponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein, Sam Brownback and Hillary Clinton and outlines a plan of action addressing all aspects of lung cancer. It was unanimously passed by both Houses of Congress.

On Nov. 9, 2006, at the Foundation's inaugural "Simply the Best Dinner Gala," Senator Chuck Hagel received the Luminosity Award honoring the foundation's first courageous individual who lights the way in the global fight against Lung Cancer and prioritizes funding for research so that ultimately a cure for the deadliest of all cancers will be found. He accepted the award saying:

"On behalf of my colleagues in the Senate and all who helped me and are part of this universe of making the world better for more people, I am most grateful that you would ask me to come and participate and celebrate the efforts that you're making. And I will tell you that we will continue to do better, we will get more money, we will do more research and I believe you can count on all of us in the Congress to work with you and to do the kind of things we should be doing for our Country and the world."

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 1, 2006 as a 501c(3) non-profit organization and has raised over nine million dollars for Lung Cancer research. For more information on BJALCF, contact Mr. Scott Santarella, president & CEO, at 203.858.7032 or ssantarella@lungcancerfoundation.org.  

About the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI)
ALCMI, as a patient-founded, U.S.-based international translational research consortium, was established in 2008 to directly catalyze and accelerate the discovery of new and more effective treatment options for all lung cancer patients.  ALCMI has established a centralized, standardized biorepository with associated clinical data to serve as a resource to investigators within and without our consortium member institutions.  Presently, 17 leading academic and community centers in the US and Europe have contractually joined together under ALCMI's leadership, collaborating on cutting edge research initiatives.  For more information on ALCMI please contact Mr. Steven Young, president & COO, at 203.226.5765 or syoung@alcmi.net.

SOURCE Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation