As we kick off our second year, we continue to need your help! 

When you donate $31 or more to this page, you become a part of 

Lisa's Lads and Lasses for ALK Positive Lung Cancer 

 to show our solidarity in support of Lisa. 

LISA'S STORY | Like illness often does, this terrifying detour came out of nowhere while my family and I were buzzing along in the midst of a normal, happy life. At age 48, without any common risk factors, I was diagnosed with non smoker's ALK+ lung cancer that had metastasized to my brain and bones.

After my diagnosis, we learned all too quickly the dismal stats -

• lung cancer makes up 25% of all cancer deaths - the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide annually,
• the overall lung cancer survival rate (18.6%) is staggeringly lower than the three next leading cancers - prostate (98.2%), breast (89.6%), and colorectal (64.5%),

• lung cancer research is one of the lowest federally funded cancers despite being the greatest cancer killer,
• 30% of all lung cancer patients under age 40 are ALK+,
• and most significant to me and my family, the median survival for metastatic ALK+ lung cancer at the time of my diagnosis was only 3 years.

BUT GUESS WHAT?! Thanks to research funded by people like you, I hit the 3 year mark and I’m still here!! I'm responding well to the targeted therapy drugs I am on and there have been exciting developments for ALK+ cancer in the last few years including new drug options that are increasing the survival rate.

HOWEVER, ALK+ patients like me are still inexplicably progressing with this disease and dying💔. A huge part of the reason I am still alive and well is because ALK+ patients before me fundraised for research and participated in clinical trials that helped scientists figure out the best way forward. I am so grateful for their part in my survival. Now it's my turn. I'm currently in a clinical trial and am advocating to raise funding for ALK+ research with the help of my family and friends!

6 ways you can help us beat ALK+ lung cancer this year!

1 | Join the 31 Mile March! Donate $31 or more and walk or run a mile each day of March to beat the winter blues with a little exercise AND ALK+ research!

2 | Take Lisa’s Lads & Lasses’ private virtual yoga class! Universal Power Yoga will teach this Zoom class on Saturday, March 11 at 11:30am! Donate $25 or more and make a difference for lung cancer patients worldwide!

3 | Buy a LL&L baseball hat! All proceeds from your $25 purchase go to the ALK Positive organization and help us raise awareness about lung cancer and our fundraiser!

4 | Come to Lisa’s Lads & Lasses' celebration! Join us on Saturday, April 8 from 1-4 at Novatos Bar & Grille in Norfolk for food, raffles and a few live auction items, plus tons of fun with Lisa’s Lads & Lasses!

5 | Donate! If you can’t participate in any of the above but want to support our research funding goal, donations of any amount are welcome and deeply appreciated! We’re also looking for sports/event tickets, vacation home getaways, or other big ticket items for our live auction! 

6 | Whether you’re able to donate or not, help us spread the word about Lisa’s Lads & Lasses! Share our Instagram and Facebook posts, ask your friends to join you for the walk, yoga class or celebration, and post selfies or pics of your view when you walk with the hashtag #lisasladsandlasses to raise engagement and awareness! 

THANK YOU also to Lisa's Lasses - Betsy, Jackie, Jenny and Kerry - who run this non-profit to keep me alive for my family. I am eternally grateful to all of you for your time and effort!!

With Love, Lisa and my family Mark, Peter, Hannah and Sean 

For updates throughout the challenge,

follow Lisa's Lads and Lasses on Facebook or Instagram

CORPORATE MATCHING | Boost your impact with a corporate match! Click the link below to see if your company has a charitable donation matching program. Scroll down to the box entitled “See if your employer will match your donation!” to search for your company and then reach out to your HR program to apply. Thank you! 

https://www.charitynavigator.org/donor-basics/giving-101/employee-match-programs/.