Nearly 450 lung health advocates gathered in Charleston for the annual LUNG FORCE Run/Walk organized by the American Lung Association in South Carolina. The event, held at Folly Beach County Park, aimed to raise awareness and funds during Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Participants raised over $145,000 to support efforts against lung cancer and lung disease.
Chris Childress, a member of the LUNG FORCE Run/Walk Cabinet and administrative director of oncology at Trident Medical Center, expressed gratitude: “Thank you to our Lowcountry community, volunteers, sponsors and LUNG FORCE Heroes who came together to make a difference in the lives of people facing lung cancer and lung disease. We’ve raised $145,000—a historic high for this event!” Childress emphasized that these funds will contribute directly to research, programming, and advocacy in South Carolina.
The awards ceremony honored "Jordan’s A-Team" with the largest team award. The group of 61 members participated in memory of Jordan Van Winkle Haney, who succumbed to lung cancer earlier this year at age 34. Elaine Carew was awarded the Alvin P. Tiedemann Challenge Cup as the top individual fundraiser. Carew shared her personal connection: “I became involved with LUNG FORCE because I lost my father to lung cancer, so this event is very close to my heart.”
The Lung Association highlights November as National Lung Cancer Awareness Month by promoting screening and raising funds for research. Despite its importance in early detection and treatment success rates, only 6.8% of high-risk individuals in South Carolina have been screened.
LUNG FORCE aims to unite those affected by lung cancer through initiatives like the Run/Walk while sharing stories of advocacy within communities.
Sponsors for the event included Gilchrist/Bissell Wealth Management of Raymond James as Presenting Sponsor; Atlantic Respiratory Services; Trident Medical Center; United Therapeutics; The Crab Shacks; PBI; Daiichi-Sankyo; Johnson & Johnson; Takeda; along with Kindred Hospitals as National Corporate Team Partner.
Further details can be found at LUNGFORCE.org/Charleston.
