DETROIT — (March 23, 2023) — Michigan resident and lung cancer survivor, Alonzita Henderson, will travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with her members of Congress during the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day on March 29.
As a part of the
nationwide event, Henderson will join more than 40 other people across the
country who have been impacted by lung cancer to ask lawmakers to support $51 billion in
research funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), $11.6 billion
in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and to support and protect Medicaid.
Henderson was diagnosed with stage three lung cancer and later the
cancer metastasized into her gluteus muscle, resulting in a stage IV lung
cancer diagnosis. She had to endure a lot of physical and emotional pain
throughout her treatment, but she persevered through it and received the
necessary care to overcome her illness.
“In October of 2022, I was given the good news that my cancer was in remission. At present, I'm back to work, and I'm back to attending my granddaughters' activities, and caring for my mother.”
During Advocacy Day, Henderson will speak with
their U.S. Senators and Representatives to share her personal experience
with lung cancer and explain why investments in public health, research funding
and quality and affordable healthcare are important to her.
The
American Lung Association launched LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day in 2016 to ask
members of Congress to support robust, sustainable and predictable federal
funding increases for lung cancer research, prevention and quality and
affordable healthcare.
As a part of Advocacy Day, LUNG FORCE Heroes have succeeded in helping increase NIH lung cancer research funding by over 115%. Since 2016, more than 50 new therapies have been approved by the FDA to treat lung cancer—giving more hope to those impacted by this disease.
In
2022, Heroes successfully urged Congress to extend funding for tax credits
so more than three million Americans were able to keep affordable healthcare
coverage through the federal and state marketplaces.
Henderson encourages others in Michigan to
advocate for lung cancer research and healthcare protections by contacting
their members of Congress, which they can do at Lung.org/AdvocacyDay. Learn more about Henderson’s story and the LUNG FORCE initiative at LUNGFORCE.org.
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About the American Lung Association
The
American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by
improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy
and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four
strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to
improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and
to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung
Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a
Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call
1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit:?
Lung.org
