By Heather Geraghty
Contact: Heather Geraghty FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(609) 330-3617
[email protected]
ONE YEAR POST LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSIS
Through the Eyes of a Young Survivor: Raising Awareness with Self-Reflection
Friday August 17, 2012 – Maple Shade, NJ – The2nd Annual Lung Cancer Fundraiser will be held at ‘A Touch of Class’ on 636 North Forklanding Road from 7pm-11pm. Tickets are $24 per person and will include a three course dinner and musical entertainment via DJ and live jazz band. A door gift will be given to the first 25 attendees, and all attendees will be entered into a door prize raffle. Other highlights of the night will include guest speakers, Lisa Eibell-Heckmann, a young lung cancer survivor, and a local area medical oncologist; 50/50 cash raffle, and 50 plus item Chinese auction.
Proceeds will benefit the LUNGevity Foundation, whose vision is a “world where no one dies of lung cancer. A world that LUNGevity helped to create by bringing together world-class scientific minds, passionate advocates, and an efficient and effective organization. Our vision is to unite the country in one movement to end lung cancer now.” – LUNGevity Foundation
According to LUNGevity Foundation, lung cancer kills more women every year than breast cancer and more men than prostate cancer. In fact, lung cancer kills more people every year than prostate, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers combined. Lung cancer is the least funded of all cancers, and is the number one killer in the United States and United Kingdom. Lung cancer’s five year survival rate is merely 16%. Nearly 60% of patients diagnosed with lung cancer have either never smoked, or were former smokers [15 plus years quit].
The fundraiser will be hosted by Miss Heather Geraghty, who became a lung cancer survivor at the age of 24. On January 20, 2011 Dr. Joel Cooper of University of Pennsylvania removed two-thirds of Miss Geraghty’s right lung. One year post surgery, she has been dedicated to erasing the stigma of lung cancer by raising awareness and connecting with other survivors. Miss Geraghty hosts numerous functions every year, writes about her experience, and advocates for LUNGevity through her blog called ‘Hope, Love, Cure’ [www.heathergeraghty.blogspot.com], and her Facebook page called ‘Cure Lung Cancer Now!”.
The main objective of the 2nd Annual Lung Cancer Fundraiser is to encourage a change in society’s often negative view of the disease. Similar to last year, this goal will be achieved through confronting the stigma, promoting awareness and actual facts, and allowing survivors to speak out on their personal experiences. This fundraiser will not only raise money for life saving research and support, but be an educational experience for those who may know nothing about the disease. Everyone is invited – whether directly connected to lung cancer or not.
All media admissions into the event are free, and inquiries should be received by Heather Geraghty as soon as possible for availability. If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Heather Geraghty, please call (609) 330-3617 or e-mail [email protected]
All ticket sale, donation and sponsorship inquires should be directed to Heather Geraghty at (609) 330-3617 or [email protected]

