Fight to stop a killer: 'Free to Breathe' run raising money to beat lung cancer

TACOMA  – The lung cancer community is on a mission: to make surviving lung cancer the expectation, not the exception. Hundreds of local residents will join in that mission by participating in the Tacoma Free to Breathe 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Walk Presented by Korum Automotive Groupon Saturday, September 19 at Wright Park. All proceeds from the event support Free to Breathe, a lung cancer research and advocacy organization dedicated to doubling lung cancer survival by 2022. ³Fundraising for lung cancer research can help families think of survival in terms of years, instead of months,² said volunteer event chair Julie Drobny of Tacoma. ³By taking action in the Free to Breathe movement and fundraising, you¹re bringing hope and empowerment to all those touched by the disease.² United in the belief that every person with lung cancer deserves a cure, the Free to Breathe community has helped raise more than $12 million to fund groundbreaking research, enroll more patients in clinical trials and provide free educational resources to those living with lung cancer. Community members, teams and local businesses came together during the 2014 Tacoma Free to Breathe 5K Run/Walk to raise over $61,500 for a disease that touches over 224,000 newly diagnosed patients each year. Event chairs hope to reach their goal of $72,000, which will go a long way in supporting lung cancer research and educational programs. The 5K Run/Walk will be the main focus at this year¹s enlivening event. Prize drawings will accompany an already invigorating day that the entire family can enjoy. Special recognition will be given to top finishers and fundraising heroes. Help double lung cancer survival by 2022. To register and begin fundraising, visit www.freetobreathe.org/tacoma Those who aren¹t able to attend the Tacoma Free to Breathe 5K Run/Walk Presented by Korum Automotive Groupcan still have an enormous impact by registering and fundraising as a virtual walker in the event. Or, those who wish to create their own unique fundraiser can access tools from Free to Breathe that will help turn any passion into a custom fundraising opportunity. The possibilities are endless but the end result is certain -- improving the lives of everyone affected by lung cancer. To get started today visit www.freetobreathe.org/community-fundraising. Watch the video below from one of the past events. Read and watch the video below for one of the past stories we've featured on the event. TACOMA September 6, 2013 - Catching bad guys is dangerous and rewarding work, but fighting an epidemic like lung cancer can help stop a killer that takes more lives than breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancers combined. Only 15% percent of people diagnosed with lung cancer will survive it because they aren't diagnosed in time. Now, one of our law enforcement partners is making it her mission to promote awareness, and ask for your help in finding a cure. Lynn Osborne was just 44 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. "Anytime the three of us are together, we always have our little pose, and she's always in the middle because she's just our rock." says her daughter, Elise Schorr. It started with a nagging cough. Lynn could feel something in her throat. She knew it wasn't right but like so many busy mom's she put off getting it tested.  When she finally did, her cancer was already Stage 3. "It was just so devastating for our whole family because she was just like the epitome of health, she just like walked and ran every day." Cathy Schrock was one of her best friends. As PIO for the Federal Way Police Department she's used to dealing with tragedy, but Lynn's struggle left her feeling helpless. "Her battle was a difficult one. She fought hard and took every bit of therapy that she could no matter how sick it made her. I think one of the most important things I like to point out is that Lynn wasn't a smoker." But the treatment didn't hold. Within a year, the cancer was back in her lungs and her brain. Despite exhausting surgeries, Lynn always made sure that on the first Saturday of September, she was on Ruston Way in Tacoma for the Free to Breathe 5k/Run and Walk. This will be Team Lynn's first year without her. "We want to keep raising money for research and that early screening that we're learning might save people's lives in the long run." says Cathy. Lynn’s daughter adds, “If anything, just everyone being together supporting this wonderful organization brings so much joy and hope and light to everyone's families, it's so important.”