West Indianapolis resident Andre Arnold, a lung cancer advocate who lost his wife Alesha to the disease, will travel to Washington, D.C. on April 7 to meet with Congressional members. His visit is part of the American Lung Association's LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day, taking place on April 9. Arnold will join over 40 LUNG FORCE Heroes, individuals affected by lung cancer, to share their personal stories and advocate for change.
Alesha's battle with cancer began when she was misdiagnosed with allergies in 2017, leading to a delayed diagnosis of stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer in July 2019. The diagnosis was unexpected, as Alesha was a non-smoker and 44-year-old breast cancer research nurse. Advanced genetic testing made her eligible for targeted therapy, which extended her life by another three and a half years. Arnold stated, "There are three truths about lung cancer: It is the No. 1 cancer killer, anyone with lungs can get lung cancer, and most importantly, research and scientific discoveries—like targeted therapy—gave me and my daughters three additional healthy years with Alesha."
Arnold plans to raise awareness about the importance of funding and support for healthcare organizations, emphasizing the significance of the NIH and CDC. He hopes to engage with Senators Jim Banks and Todd Young, and Representative Andre Carson to discuss his experience and the need for research funding.
The 2025 LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day marks the event's 10th anniversary and comes at a crucial time with potential federal budget cuts affecting lung cancer research and healthcare. LUNG FORCE Heroes aim to protect research at the National Institutes of Health and public health at the Centers for Disease Control, along with advocating for Medicaid's role in health coverage.
Indiana residents are invited to join the movement by visiting the LUNG FORCE website. For interviews with Andre Arnold, contact Janye Killelea. Further details on the advocacy day and the Lung Association's initiatives can also be found online.
