United for Lung Health Advocacy Days!

Pictured here with the Free to Breathe CA CEO Margo and one of her primary advocates, Roslynn. We crossed from the House to the Senate side 10 times! Well worth the aching feet!





May 13th and 14th were United for Lung Health Advocacy Days on Capital Hill. I represented National Lung Cancer Partnership and advocated for increased funding for the NIH and CDC, and for Lung Cancer Awareness.
I met with Senator Lugar, Senator Bayh, and Senator Feinstein's office. I also met with 7 congressmen from CA and Indiana. Everyone was very receptive to my agenda:
6.6% increase in funding for NIH (National Institutes of Health) and CDC (Center for Disease Control)
Increased funding for CMAQ (air quality Improvement)
Increased funding for DERA (Diesel Emission Reduction)
Support of the Family Smoking Prevention Act
Reinforcement of the Indoor Radon Abatement Act (one of the leading causes of lung cancer)

Most importantly, I had a face-to-face meeting with Senator Barbara Boxer, Chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee. She is a strong advocate for clean air, disease control, and cancer funding. After I shared my story about how I lost my mom, she shared that she was aware that lung cancer kills TWICE as many women as breast cancer and that lung cancer has never had adequate funding.

Senator Boxer is writing and sponsoring a Bill for Lung Cancer funding! This means NATIONAL sponsorship and funding! I am working with the DC staff to get this on the floor for voting by the next administration! This is huge, as it will allow funding for research, which will lead to better screening, better treatment and better survival rate. I am so very happy! This proves that one person CAN make a difference.

Revlon Run/Walk

Today I ran a 5K to honor all women and to increase awareness of Women's Cancer - Breast and Ovarian. I am amazed by the wonderful turnout at events such as this - there were over 40,000 people there! Revlon Los Angeles is sponsored by the Entertainment Industry Foundation, EIF. Lisa Paulson with EIF spoke, along with Tom Selleck, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Halle Berry. Lisa mentioned how she had been touched by cancer in her family and that her dad died of lung cancer last year. I also met a young 17 year old today that lost her mom to lung cancer too at the age of 10. Sad...I know what they have gone through and ARE going through. Losing a loved one, so fast...it isn't fair.
I ran today because I had a lump removed from my left breast 10 years ago, I ran because I am high risk for breast and lung cancer. I ran because cancer runs in my family. What is sad is that 1 out of 7 women will get breast cancer, but sadder is that more than TWICE as many women die from lung cancer than breast cancer! My challenge to all women (and men) is to get checked, to ask your doctor questions, know if you are at higher risk, and look deeper than the breast...look at your lungs too!

Walk with Sally's Ribbon Cutting

Walk with Sally is a California based non-profit that is doing amazing things. I am training to be a mentor, as I have lost a parent to cancer. I would love to see this organization expand nationwide. I am attending a Grand Opening for their new location before heading to D.C. to visit Indiana's Senators Lugar and Bayh.
Please click on the photo to get a better view of the flyer. www.WalkwithSally.org

United For Lung Health Lobby Days!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LUNG CANCER ADVOCACY MAKES ITS WAY TO WASHINGTON
Niece of Screen Legend Steve McQueen Brings Her Personal Fight to
Capital Hill

Mrs. Indiana International 2008, Janice McQueen Ward joins the National Lung Cancer Partnership in their push for National Lung Cancer Awareness. Representing both Indiana and California she will be in Washington on May 13 and 14 for the United for Lung Health/Federal Advocacy Day.

The purpose of this historic event is to educate elected officials about lung disease from the patient’s perspective and to urge government to increase funding of lung health research and educational programs.

Having lost her mother and uncle, the legendary actor Steve McQueen, to this killer, Janice brings a very personal passion to this issue and her intention is to bring Cancer Awareness to the forefront in every state in the United States: This is just the beginning.


If you would like more information or to schedule an interview with Janice McQueen Ward, please call Janice through Laughing Cat Productions at 219.923.3887