The inaugural Free to Breathe 5K Run/Walk will be unleashed around the NTC Promenade’s cultural district at Liberty Station on Saturday, Aug. 21 to raise funds to support the fight against lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of both women and men in the United States. The event begins at 7 a.m. at NTC Park on Farragut Road and is sponsored by the National Lung Cancer Partnership (NLCP). Helping to coordinate this event is Santee resident Joe Hamilton. Since 2008, Hamilton has been getting actively involved in lung cancer advocacy and organizing fundraising support. Hamilton and other family members were the sole care providers for their mother, Margie Hamilton, who was diagnosed with the disease and fought it for five years until the final months of 2008. “We were there for her morning, noon and night. And in my mom’s final moments, I vowed to help make a difference in the fight against lung cancer,” Hamilton said. “Lung cancer claims roughly 160,000 lives in the U.S. each year, a number that surpasses the combined amount of lives taken by breast, colon and prostate cancers together,” he said. “And it receives by far the least amount of funding by comparison.” In bold contrast to the large number of lives claimed by lung cancer is the amount of research funding the disease receives in comparison to the other types of cancer. The NLCP’s website cites information from the National Cancer Institute’s 2007 estimate on federal research funding which, when broken down, shows lung cancer research money equated to about $1,415 per death that year, while breast cancer research money equated to $13,991 per death. Hamilton wants to help change this imbalance and said it is slowly happening with events like the Free to Breathe® 5k Run/Walk. The funds raised from these events support the National Lung Cancer Partnership’s overall mission of cutting down deaths due to lung cancer and helping those afflicted to live longer, fuller lives by contributing to research. “We are organizing some local news anchors and political assemblymen to give some motivational speeches starting at 7 a.m.,” Hamilton said. “The actual walk takes off at 8 a.m.” “People are encouraged to sign up individually or as a part of a team,” he said. “Right now, I know my team is near the front of the competition for funds raised.” Participants may register online at www.freetobreathe.com at a cost of $20. The last day to register online is Aug.18. The cost to register the day of the event is $25. Hamilton said the entry fee includes a T-shirt and access to more materials to further strengthen fundraising support. Visit www.freetobreathe.com and follow the registration link to the local San Diego event link. For more information, visit www.nationallungcan cerpartnership.org.
