Giving to Research

Dear Readers,

I am using this page to support some ongoing projects and special events to raise funds for lung cancer research. Funding for lung cancer research lags significantly behind that of other cancers, in part due to lung cancer's terrible stigma. You can help us overcome that stigma and research-funding gap with your support of these efforts below.

Ongoing and Projects and Special Events

to Support Lung Cancer Research

The ROS1ders This non-profit organization sponsors patient-driven research and advocacy for people like me, with the very rare ROS1-driven lung cancer. It is near and dear to my heart. Their patient Facebook group pointed me toward life-saving treatments. They are moving lung cancer research and patient care forward with their advocacy, determination, and hard work. They are an inspiration every day. Because it is a rare cancer, it is somewhat under researchers, and though our existing treatments work for a period of time, the disease mutates around those treatments until we run out of options. Our research is aimed at better understanding ROS1, and finding new, more effective treatments. Please use the link here to donate to our research.

Lungevity Foundation I'm on the organizing committee for an annual Breathe Deep 5K we do here in Nashville, which benefits the Lungevity Foundation. I attend patient summits they sponsor, a great way to connect with patients, doctors, and researchers, and to learn about all the research opportunities and patient support activities and resources Lungevity funds.

GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer This is another great resource for lung cancer patients. They have lots of great patient education materials and do important work advocating and lobbying Congress for more research funding dedicated to lung cancer research.

Sarah Cannon Center: This center partners with my community oncology team at Tennessee Oncology. Sarah Cannon sponsors clinical trials, so Tennessee Oncology patients here in Nashville sometimes enter those trials. They have even tested some ROS1 drugs here. Though there are many Tennessee Oncology clinics all over Middle Tennessee, I get my treatment at the Tennessee Oncology clinic adjacent to the Sarah Cannon Center, and my oncologist, Dr. Melissa Johnson, is a researcher there.

Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center I went here to be treated by the amazing Dr. Alice Shaw, who pioneered a cutting edge therapy. I participated in a clinical trial for the drug which has kept me more or less cancer-free for several years. 

Memorial Sloan Kettering This cancer center is also offering treatments for hard to treat, rare lung cancers.

The Huff Project My friend Stephen Huff has ALK+ lung cancer. He and his wife Emily founded The Huff Project, a nonprofit organization aimed at raising awareness and funds for cancer research. Stephen is a Nashvillian, like me, and has worked tirelessly to raise funds through a license plate campaign. If you live in Tennessee, especially, I hope you'll support Stephen's efforts!