ALA's 'Lung Force' calling all Americans to join fight against lung cancer in women

New York City landmark One World Trade Center illuminated turquoise for #LUNGFORCE

CHICAGO — The American Lung Association's Lung Force initiative is joining forces with Academy Award-nominated actress, Laura Dern, country music star Kellie Pickler, and Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress, Valerie Harper, during National Women’s Lung Health Week, held May 10 to 16, to share their voices in an effort to defeat lung cancer in women.



Now in its second year, Lung Force, in partnership with national presenting sponsor, CVS Health, is empowering women and men to share their voices and make lung cancer a public health priority.



“We’ve made great strides since launching Lung Force last year; however, there’s still work to be done,” stated Harold Wimmer, national president and CEO of the American Lung Association. “As the American public’s go-to resource for lung health, the American Lung Association has the responsibility to address this urgent health issue. We take that very seriously and are asking all Americans to join us in the fight against lung cancer in women by sharing their voices.”



"An important part of our decision to stop selling tobacco products was our dedication to helping people on their path to better health. Our partnership with the American Lung Association's LUNG FORCE helps us extend that purpose to so many women and their families," added Helena Foulkes, president, CVS/pharmacy. "As we kick off the second year of our Lung Force in-store fundraising campaign, we will continue to make significant strides in helping women understand the prevalence of lung cancer and reaffirm our commitment to helping people lead tobacco-free lives."



As previously reported by Drug Store News, now through May 23, CVS/pharmacy customers can support Lung Force when they donate $1, $3, or more at the register or online at cvs.com/lung. All of the proceeds will support the movement.



Every eight minutes, a woman in the United States dies of lung cancer. It is the No. 1 cancer killer of women, killing almost twice as many women as any other cancer. Yet, awareness is extremely low. Only 1% of women cite lung cancer as a women’s cancer that is top-of-mind for them, according to the American Lung Association's



To commemorate National Women’s Lung Health Week, Lung Force is debuting a new video starring notable women personally affected by lung cancer including Dern, Harper, Pickler and other lung cancer patients and caregivers.

The video is a statement from public figures and those impacted by lung cancer who are leading by example. They are sharing their personal accounts of how lung cancer has touched their lives to get all Americans to raise their voices and call attention to this deadly disease.