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The Lung Cancer Research Foundation is proud to recognize Pfizer Oncology as the National Presenting Sponsor of our Free to Breathe Events Program. Their continued partnership has been instrumental in helping communities across the country come together in hope, remembrance, and action.

Turning a meeting into meaning

Pfizer’s dedication to lung cancer research and patient support extends far beyond sponsorship. This year, their Precision Medicine team hosted a Free to Breathe Walk right on their campus during their annual team meeting in La Jolla, CA. The group organized their own opening ceremony, symbolizing unity with the lung cancer community nationwide. It was a moving display of their team’s passion and personal commitment to the cause.

Walking with purpose

That spirit of solidarity has been felt across the country. Pfizer supported our Free to Breathe Chicago Walk, which brought together more than 700 attendees in the fight to end lung cancer. And at our Free to Breathe Kansas City, the community was deeply inspired by Kelly Huffman, a Pfizer employee living with lung cancer, who shared her story of courage and resilience during the opening ceremony. Her message of hope reminded everyone that funding research truly makes a difference.

Kelly speaks in Kansas City
Anthony Demirjian in Chicago

No one in this family fights alone

Pfizer’s Precision Medicine team lives by the motto: “No one in this family fights alone.” Those words perfectly capture what the Free to Breathe community stands for—coming together as one family, walking side by side to fund groundbreaking research and support those affected by lung cancer. “We’re incredibly grateful to Pfizer Oncology for their partnership, passion, and leadership in advancing our collective mission,” said Emma Nestler, LCRF’s Senior Manager, Community Engagement. “Together, we’re walking toward a future free from lung cancer.”

Posted in Events, PartnershipsTagged , ,

NEW YORK, NY (November 11, 2025) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is pleased to welcome Benay Taub to its Board of Directors.

Benay Taub

Benay Taub was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in June 2024, despite having no known risk factors for the disease. Her experience has inspired her to raise awareness, foster understanding, and advocate for increased funding to advance life-saving and life-changing lung cancer research. She is deeply committed to supporting innovation and is hopeful that progress will lead to better treatments and brighter futures for all those affected by lung cancer.

Benay earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her law degree from Brooklyn Law School. She is a Mediator in the State of New York and has been actively involved in numerous charitable and community-based organizations, serving on several Boards of Directors. She also holds certificates from the International Culinary Center and the New York Bartending School.

Benay and her husband, Steven, are the proud parents of four children.

Most recently, Ms. Taub was the featured patient speaker at the LCRF Evening of Innovation gala, and the Taubs have funded an LCRF Team Science award titled 2025 LCRF Team Science Award on Advancing Therapies Toward Curing EGFR Mutated Lung Cancers, which will be awarded in early 2026.

“It is meaningful for me to be joining LCRF as a board member,” said Benay Taub. “Lung cancer research, which has been historically underfunded, is the reason that people like me have hope for the future. I look forward to working with the other board members and staff, helping LCRF shape its future in funding impactful research that will continue to save lives.”

“Benay’s energy and drive will be a great addition to LCRF’s Board of Directors,” remarked Colleen Conner Zeigler, chair of LCRF’s board. “Having her perspective as someone with a relatively new diagnosis will be instrumental as we embark on our strategic plan to double the organization’s research investment. We’re excited to have her with us.”

“Benay understands what it takes to turn big ideas into meaningful progress,” said Aubrey Rhodes, LCRF’s executive director. “She bridges her lived experience with the latest research advances, highlighting the real-world impact that science has on the entire lung cancer community. Her leadership as an LCRF board member will be invaluable as we expand our research program to improve outcomes and extend survival for people living with lung cancer.”

To learn more about LCRF, its volunteer leadership, its funded research, and its grants program, visit www.LCRF.org.

# # #

About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF)
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF’s mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 431 research grants, totaling nearly $49 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information, visit lcrf.org.

Contact:
Sheila Sullivan
Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications, LCRF
ssullivan@LCRF.org

Posted in Announcements, PeopleTagged ,

LCRF’s 2025 Scientific Symposium, Current and Emerging Hot Topics in Lung Cancer, was held November 5 to kick off our Lung Cancer Awareness Month activities. Watch the replay below. The slide deck can be downloaded here.

Learn more about our program participants:

Host


Kathryn A. O’Donnell, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Biology,
UT Southwestern Medical Center;
Co-leader, Development and Cancer Program, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center

Chair, LCRF Scientific Advisory Board

Presenters

Sarah Goldberg, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology) and Associate Director, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program;
Research Director, Center for Thoracic Cancers, Yale School of Medicine

Member, LCRF Scientific Advisory Board


Colleen Conner-Ziegler
Patient Advocate

Chair, LCRF Board of Directors


Chi-Fu Jeffrey Yang, MD
Thoracic Surgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital;
Founding Director, MGH CAIIRE;
Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Founder and Chair, American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative

Don L. Gibbons, MD, PhD
Isaiah J. Fidler Professorship in Cancer Research, Professor & Deputy Chair;
Director, Translational Genetic Models Laboratory;
Co-Leader, Lung Cancer Moon Shot Program;
Dept. Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, Dept. Molecular & Cellular Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center

James DeGregori, PhD
Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics;
Courtenay C. and Lucy Patten Davis Endowed Chair in Lung Cancer Research;
Deputy Director, University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Anschutz

Moderator


Isabel Preeshagul, DO, MBS
Assistant Attending Physician, Thoracic Oncology,
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

LCRF Education and Engagement Committee Chair

Posted in Events, ResearchTagged ,

Sometimes, the most powerful fundraisers start with the simplest idea: a pitcher of lemonade and a whole lot of heart.

This summer, several young supporters showed how something as small as a lemonade stand can make a big impact on lung cancer research.

Stella hosted her stand at her grandma’s house this August to honor her dad, Jackie DeShazo Jr., who passed away from lung cancer in 2020 at age 35 — when Stella was just 3 years old. “My dad loved my grandma’s lemonade,” she said. “I wanted to honor him by making lemonade and raising money to support other people and families.” When asked her one word to describe her experience, Stella said, “Fantastic!”

Stella (right) and a friend at her lemonade stand

Wynter spent her summer running a “LemonAID” stand to show support for her dad, Jeremy Heinen, who is living with lung cancer. “My daddy was diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2024,” Wynter said. “It has inspired me to raise money for lung cancer research so maybe someday no kid will have to watch their daddy fight this ugly disease ever again.”

Her mom, her mom’s best friend, and several of Wynter’s friends pitched in to set up the booth, prepare and sell treats, and accept donations.

Along with lemonade, Wynter baked cookies, made white ribbon bracelets, and poured love into every cup she sold to show her dad how much she believes in him.

“My advice for someone thinking about hosting their own fundraiser is to just jump in and just do it,” she said. “I’m only 10 years old, came up with this idea on my own, and we raised almost $10,000. If I can do it (with a little help from my parents and friends), then anyone can!”

Wynter (right) with her mom, Vickie
Wynter with a friend at the lemonade stand

The Duffy family hosts their stand every year before the Chicago Free to Breathe Walk in memory of Lesley DeMaio Duffy, who passed away at 41 in 2018. Their team, Team DeMuffy, brings all the kids together to sell lemonade, raise funds, and celebrate Lesley’s life and legacy.

A few members of Team DeMuffy at this year’s Free to Breathe Chicago Walk

All of these kids are proof that when you mix love, creativity, and purpose, you can turn something hard into something hopeful. They remind us that fundraising can involve the whole family — it brings people together, teaches compassion, and spreads hope with every glass poured.

“Any little bit helps. If it means it saves one person from this awful disease, or gives someone extra time with their loved ones, then it makes all of this worth it,” Wynter said.

Posted in FundraisingTagged ,

The Free to Breathe Anywhere Walk is underway through the end of the year – participants can walk whenever and wherever they would like. Walkers are still accepting donations, too!

October 4-5 was the official walk weekend, and participants all over the country formed groups big and small to show their support for lung cancer research. To date, the walk has raised over $100,000!

Sign up, make a donation, or learn more about the event at LCRF.org/anywhere.

Watch the Free to Breathe Anywhere Walk opening ceremony here:

View photos

Email events@LCRF.org if you have photos you’d like to add!

Congratulations to our top fundraising teams as of October 5: Team Fitzpayne/Morningstar, Cancer Warriors for Research, Team Danimal, TeamAviators, and Grampy’s Angels. Top individuals to date are Al Fitzpayne, Archana Gupta, Sharon Munger, Maggie McCloskey, and Kate Veras.

A special thanks to our sponsors:

  • Pfizer Oncology, National Free to Breathe Program Sponsor
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Merck
  • Boehringer Engelheim
  • Novocure
  • Fox Chase Cancer Center
  • Biodesix
Posted in EventsTagged ,

The sun was shining in Chicago on October 5 – an appropriate start to a day filled with hope and warmth. More than 700 participants joined forces for the Free to Breathe Chicago Walk and raised over $215,000 for research to support the patients, families, and friends affected by lung cancer.

Lexi Valasek, who shared her story as a patient with stage 4 lung cancer, remarked, “Research is an act of empathy. It’s a collective promise we make to one another. It says: Your life matters. Your fight is our fight. We’re not going to leave you to face this alone.”

“When we fund research, we’re not just writing a check,” she added. “We are investing in the human potential and the fundamental belief that we can and will defeat this disease.”

Hear Lexi’s full speech below. You can find more videos in our photo album.

Tejal Patel, a patient as well as a member of LCRF’s Board of Directors, told the crowd, “There are more treatment options than ever before, and in just the past few years, we’re continuing to see an exponential increase in new treatments approvals, and the pace of progress continues to accelerate. This momentum truly would not be possible without your support, but we can’t stop here. Lung cancer has historically been severely underfunded, and today that’s truer than ever, especially with the federal programs being cut.”

“We will push research forward and bring hope to so many families that are counting on all of us. Every single donation has the power to spark the next breakthrough, the next treatment, and the next reason for hope.”

View photo album
Tejal takes a selfie with the crowd.

A special thanks to our sponsors:

  • Pfizer Oncology, National Free to Breathe Sponsor
  • Abbvie, Chicago Walk Presenting Sponsor
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Boehringer Ingelheim
  • Merck
  • Novocure
  • Catalyst Pharmaceuticals
  • AstraZeneca
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Endeavor Health
  • Genentech, a member of the Roche Group
  • UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Jazz Pharmaceuticals
  • Regeneron
  • United Airlines

Congratulations to our top fundraising teams: Team Diane, Lively Lungs, Breathe Easy Fight Hard, DeMuffy, and Team DL. Kudos to top fundraising individuals: Jim Dominici, John Dominici, Doug Pawlowski, Brian Duffy, and Tejal Patel.

Posted in EventsTagged

$1 million in research grants awarded to focus on lung cancers harboring HER2 mutations and/or other HER2 alterations

NEW YORK, NY (September 30, 2025) – The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is pleased to announce, in collaboration with Bayer Pharmaceuticals, the recipients of two research grants focused on innovative strategies to advance the understanding and management of lung cancers harboring HER2 mutations and/or other HER2 alterations.

These grants are awarded to projects that address important mechanistic questions and developmental therapeutics across the care continuum for HER2-mutant NSCLC, with the potential to improve patient outcomes. Titled LCRF | Bayer Research Award on Innovative Therapeutic Strategies to Treat Lung Cancers Harboring HER2 Mutations and/or Other HER2 Alterations, submissions were required to include correlative, translational research to advance the understanding of HER2-driven lung cancers. Additionally, submissions were required to include a patient or patient advocate as part of the research team with a role in project design. Awardees receive $500,000 over two years for their projects.

“There is an urgent need to understand the role of HER2 alterations as oncogenic drivers as well as tumor response and resistance mechanisms,” says Kathryn O’Donnell, PhD, LCRF Scientific Advisory Board chair. “We are hopeful that these projects will drive tangible benefits for patients whose tumors harbor these mutations or alterations.”

“We extend our congratulations to the recipients of these awards. We share the investigators’ commitment to patients living with lung cancer, and the desire to bring impactful research results to not only improve treatments, but quality of life,” said Lucia Regales, PhD, Global Medical & Evidence Strategy Lead Oncology at Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division.

The recipients of the LCRF | Bayer Research Award on Innovative Therapeutic Strategies to Treat Lung Cancers Harboring HER2 Mutations and/or Other HER2 Alterations are:

Sarah Goldberg, MD, MPH
Yale School of Medicine
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology)
Associate Director, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program
Research Director, Center for Thoracic Cancers
Stratifying and Personalizing for HER2 Mutated Lung Cancers

Xiuning Le, MD, PhD
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Associate Professor, Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology
Division of Internal Medicine
Characterization of HER2 Mutations’ Sensitivity to Sevabertinib & Development of Novel Combination Strategies to Overcome Resistance to Current HER2 Therapies

To learn more about LCRF funded research and its grants program, visit LCRF.org.

# # #

About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF)
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation® (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF’s mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 431 research grants, totaling nearly $49 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information, visit LCRF.org.

Contact:
Sheila Sullivan
Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications, LCRF
ssullivan@LCRF.org

To learn more about HER2-mutant NSCLC, download this educational resource. If you have questions, you can connect with our Lung Cancer Support Line at (844) 835-4325 or email support@LCRF.org.

Posted in Announcements, Grants, ResearchTagged , ,

More than 300 people gathered at Longview Lake in Kansas City on September 27 to walk toward a world without lung cancer.

Together, walkers raised over $35,000 to fund lung cancer research. Many were there to support family or friends experiencing lung cancer. Some had received a diagnosis themselves. Others were there to honor the memory of someone lost to the disease. Everyone held in common a commitment to research that will lead to better outcomes for patients and families.

View photo album

Kudos to our top fundraising teams: The Lung and the Restless, Team Alexis Mirakian, and #TeamShelton. A high five to our top individual fundraisers as well: Alexis Mirakian, Wynter Heinen, and Stephanie Brunkhorst.

The walk couldn’t have happened without our Kansas City volunteer committee – Stephanie Brunkhorst, Steve Shelton, Jennifer Crosby, and Shana Abdullah – and our sponsors:

  • Pfizer Oncology
  • Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems
  • Boehringer Ingelheim
  • Novocure
  • Merck
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City
  • Essense of Australia
  • Energy Pro Windows & Siding
  • R&R Marketing Solutions
  • Garrett Good, State Farm

Our in-kind sponsors included Party It Up Entertainment along with FIT Muscle & Joint Clinic.

There’s still time to get involved! The Free to Breathe Anywhere Walk participants can walk any time they’d like through the end of 2025.

Posted in EventsTagged , ,

Glenna is a wife, mother, grandmother, and avid traveler… and she is living with lung cancer.

Her story started in December 2022, when she developed a nagging cough. She wasn’t especially worried, since she had been given a diagnosis of silent reflex some 8 years earlier. By March, however, the cough was getting worse.

She met with her primary care provider, who adjusted her medication. But 4 weeks later, her symptoms hadn’t improved. This time, she was referred to a specialist for reflux.

Then Glenna and her husband took an Alaskan cruise, and Glenna became very sick. Upon returning in June, she felt terrible and had severe pain in her shoulder blade. Nothing abnormal was found, but at that point Glenna hadn’t had a chest X-ray.

In late June, Glenna had quite a scare. “We were at home, and I told my husband he needed to take me to the ER immediately, because I couldn’t breathe.” The ER visit revealed a 9 cm mass in her lung, and she was admitted to the hospital for four days.

Glenna finally had a diagnosis: stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer. Her first-line chemotherapy treatment unfortunately failed. But a blood and tissue biopsy for biomarker testing after her initial diagnosis confirmed that her cancer had the HER2 mutation.

In September 2023, she began a targeted treatment, Enhertu. Glenna has continued on this treatment, and her status is officially NED – no evidence of disease.

Glenna (seated) with her husband, daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchild; and with her husband on some of their travels.

Glenna and her husband have continued to travel throughout her diagnosis. “We had a lot of trips this summer, and we’re still planning more,” she said. “My family has been a great source of support through my treatment.”

“I’m glad I had testing done at the beginning, because it helped avoid a delay in care after my first-line treatment failed. I was relieved to have the additional information, as I knew it would give me options for targeted treatment for the HER2 mutation.”

> Learn about biomarker testing for HER2 and other genetic mutations
> Find a patient support group
> Donate to fund lung cancer research

Posted in JourneysTagged , ,