The 2009 DFW Walk/Run for LUNGevity event will be on November 7th, at 9:00 am at River Legacy Park.
 
Those who know me know that I'm not much for fund raising events. The monster fund raising organizations that spend more money on themselves than research just don't do it for me.
 
But I make an exception for this event for several reasons. First, as most of you already know, I am a lung cancer survivor. Believe me, there are few words to hear that are more terrorizing than, "You have lung cancer." Most people diagnosed with the disease are dead within a year. The five year survival rate is just 15 percent. Lung cancer kills more people than the next five deadliest cancers combined.
 
And lung cancer research is the most under-funded of any major disease. Lung cancer causes thirty five percent of all cancer deaths, yet gets less than five percent of cancer research funding. There have been major advancements in recent years in the treatments for most cancers, but not lung cancer.
 
This event is hosted by Katie Brown. She lives in North Richland Hills, and is the founder of the Lung Cancer Support Community web site, one of the largest online lung cancer support groups, which she later merged with the LUNGevity Foundation. Katie, who lost her father to lung cancer in 2004, is a tireless advocate for lung cancer research funding and patient and caregiver support.  
 
The LUNGevity Foundation is a grass roots organization composed completely of volunteers. There are no six figure executives in this group. What it collects is used for research.
 
I have been very lucky so far, an almost two year survivor who is still a long distance cyclist. That's pretty much unheard of. It compels me to do what I can to try and help patients of this disease. I participate in online lung cancer support forums. I attend monthly meetings of a local lung cancer support group. I have accepted a position as a consumer reviewer on a Department of Defense peer review panel for proposed lung cancer studies. I've already done part of the work for that online, and I'll be flying to Washington, DC in January for the rest of it.
 
And I serve as a survivor speaker at this event. With Rose's upcoming surgery making her uncertain for the event, I'm also the one who is putting together a team for the event this year. I'm not much of a walker, but I'll do the 5k walk on this day. To join my team, go to this page (and search for my team name: Bud's Bunch). If you just want to donate, you can do that at my page, here. The walk's main web page is here. I'd love to see any rbenters who can make it out to walk with me. And if you can't go, online donations are accepted and appreciated. It was a good turnout of rbent folks at last year's event.
 

 
EDIT: Added a link to the page for joining my team.

Angie, Aaron and I will be there again this year too.  We had a great time, especially listening to Bud get on the podium and give a speach.  Hmm, we may have to bring one of our doogies again too.

Quote from FlyingLaZBoy on Oct 7^th, 2009, 3:30pm:

 
Paul,
 
Go to this page to join the team. The team name to search for is Bud's Bunch.

Quote from Bud_Bent on Nov 1^st, 2009, 1:43pm:

 
 
Bud, Peggy & I will be there. Same place as last year? All our best to Rose.
 
-Steve

Our Prayers are with Rose and you Bud.  --Take Care, Nelson.

Quote from Bud_Bent on Nov 1^st, 2009, 1:43pm:

 
 
I wont get to see my sweetheart give his speech    or get to walk beside him.  Maybe next year.  Wish I could be there.

Quote from aikigreg on Nov 3^rd, 2009, 6:44pm:

 
Greg,
 
Feel free to post it wherever you want. This underfunded cause needs all the help it can get.

Not going to be able to make the walk, Bud, but sincere best wishes to you...   and to Rose, of course, for successful, uncomplicated surgery!!!!!!