Lung Cancer Initiative

August is Make-a-Will Month!

Haven't made a will yet? There's no better time to start. Already have one? Now is a good time to review it and make sure it still reflects your current wishes and priorities.

Create a lasting impact for the causes you care about most.

Hope + Action starts with planning ahead.

What a night at Azalea Station! Azalea Station

Last Thursday we came together for the Wilmington Community Education and Social Event. Guests connected with survivors, providers, and community advocates and heard powerful words from:

🎤 Erika McArtor, Lung Cancer Survivor
🎤 Dr. Nathaniel Meier, Novant Health Novant Health
🎤 Heidi and Pierre Onda, White Ribbon Project The White Ribbon Project™

Moments like these remind us what’s possible when a community shows up for each other. Hope + Action, in real time.

Huge thanks to Perla Raw Bar Perla Raw Bar for the amazing food and to our wonderful event sponsors:
Amgen
AstraZeneca
Daiichi Sankyo US
Johnson & Johnson
Pharmacosmos

Save the dates! Three ways to show up for our community this fall:

📍 Greenville LUNGe Forward 5K Run, Walk & Celebration — September 19
📍 Triad LUNGe Forward 5K Run, Walk & Celebration — October 3
📍 Jodi 5K Run and Walk — November 8 | Durham

Every step taken is a step toward hope, healing, and progress for those affected by lung cancer. Whether you run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines, you're part of something bigger.

Join us — because together, hope becomes action.

👉 Visit lungcancerinitiative.org/events to learn more and sign up!

Every breakthrough starts somewhere. For one lung cancer researcher, it started with a grant from Lung Cancer Initiative. Today, that early support has helped identify a new path toward treatment. Read the full story and see what your support can help build next.
🔗 Link in bio.

Last night, we gathered in Charlotte to celebrate something powerful: hope in action. 💛

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Giving Hope Society VIP reception — your generosity is directly fueling research, education, and access programs for those affected by lung cancer.

Did you know? The Giving Hope Society recognizes our most dedicated supporters — donors who give or raise $1,000+ a year for Lung Cancer Initiative. And there's more than one way to join:

🔹 Individual donations totaling $1,000+ in a calendar year
🔹 Funds raised on our behalf through events like our LUNGe Forward Walk/Runs
🔹 Recurring monthly gifts — just $84+ a month gets you there!

Every gift, every mile walked, every dollar raised brings us closer to a future where no one faces lung cancer alone.

Interested in becoming a Giving Hope Society member? Visit lungcancerinitiative.org to learn more or send us a DM — we'll follow up with all the details.

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A new number worth sitting with: only 33%.

That's how many people know that lifesaving lung cancer screening even exists. Meanwhile, lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. — and most people don't know that either.

This is exactly why screening programs matter. Early detection changes everything. When lung cancer is caught early, there are more treatment options and better outcomes.

Here's what we want more people to know:

🔹 Who qualifies: adults 50–80 with a significant smoking history (current smokers or those who quit within the last 15 years)
🔹 What it involves: a low-dose CT scan — no needles, no prep, no downtime
🔹 How long it takes: the scan itself is just 10–30 seconds
🔹 What's next: talk to your doctor, even if you feel fine. Only 24% of people have mentioned their risk to their provider

Hope starts with knowing your options. Take the next step — learn more about our screening program and find out if you qualify at screeningsaveslives.org.

Source: American Lung Association, 2026 Lung Health Barometer

Today our team gathered in the office for our own White Ribbon build — and honestly, it was more than a craft project. Somewhere between painting ribbons, the conversation turned to why this work matters: awareness isn't just a hashtag or a month on the calendar. It's a ribbon on someone's door that starts a conversation. It's a stranger asking "what's that for?" and walking away understanding a little more about lung cancer.

That's the whole idea behind The White Ribbon Project — started by Heidi Onda, who we were proud to highlight on our socials last week. What began as one ribbon on her front door has grown into a global symbol carried by patients, survivors, caregivers, and advocates. Simple. Handmade. Impossible to ignore.

Every ribbon built is a small act with a big ripple — connecting people who've been touched by lung cancer to a community that sees them, and connecting everyone else to a cause that needs their attention.

We're building ours in preparation for our Community Social and Education Event - part of the Wilmington White Ribbon Event Series - on August 6 at Azalea Station in the Cargo District. If you want to pick up a paintbrush yourself, hear Heidi's story firsthand, and be part of this growing movement, we'd love to have you there.

Learn more and register: bit.ly/WWREven

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Meet the Summer 2026 Interns at Lung Cancer Initiative!

From driving gas card logistics to crafting social media posts, building slide decks, and so much more, our interns have been working hard behind the scenes all summer long. We simply couldn’t do what we do without their energy and support. Join us in giving them a well-deserved thank you!

What’s one career goal you have? Reduce barriers to cancer care access for as many people as possible!

Why LCI?: I’m passionate about improving access to cancer care and prevention, and I appreciate LCI’s focus on community health and the people behind the diagnosis.

What’s one career goal you have? Graduate with an MBA and work in a glass office!

Why LCI? I have loved non-profit work since high school and this seemed like a great opportunity to hone my design and business skills while supporting a wonderful cause.

What’s one career goal you have? - Becoming a travel nurse!

Why LCI?- My grandparents were getting emails from LCI and after I looked up their website and got more details, I learned about their family-oriented approach and have been a fan since.