Crimson’s Group on the 2014 Lung Most cancers Stroll for HopeKimberly started looking for methods to provide again to native lung most cancers organizations in 2007, after her mom and grandfather had been identified with lung most cancers simply days aside from one another.
She and her household got here throughout Most cancersCare’s Annual Lung Most cancers Stroll for Hope, and determined to affix. After their first stroll, they had been hooked.
“Since we began strolling in 2007, we’ve solely missed one yr,” Kimberly says, “and that was as a result of after Hurricane Sandy, it was rescheduled for a similar weekend as my wedding ceremony!”
On Sunday, November 6, Kimberly and her household will be part of a whole bunch of Lengthy Island residents on the City of Oyster Bay Golf Course to take part of their tenth stroll. The annual fundraiser has develop into a approach to spin a unfavourable circumstance right into a constructive one, paying tribute to her grandfather, Frank, and celebrating her mom and aunt, who was additionally identified with lung most cancers. “It’s one thing we stay up for,” she says. “The stroll goes in our calendars as quickly because the date is introduced.”
The truth is, for Kimberly, the spirit of the occasion extends past the top of the stroll. She and her household dedicate the whole day to Frank’s reminiscence, telling tales about him and doing issues he beloved.
“Our group is known as “Crimson’s Group,” which was the nickname everybody knew him by. So we put on pink, we go to Applebee’s and get his favourite drink, watch soccer and snigger so much. It’s a time to return collectively.”
This yr, they’re taking it a step additional. Since Frank beloved music and was an aspiring songwriter, Crimson’s Group donated a Bose Wave music system to the Lung Most cancers Stroll for Hope raffle in his reminiscence.
Along with becoming a member of Most cancersCare’s Lung Most cancers Stroll for Hope as a group captain, raffle chairperson and planning committee member, Kimberly additionally advocates for others affected by lung most cancers. She is aware of from expertise that not like different forms of most cancers, lung most cancers can include stigma connected.
To construct consciousness about lung most cancers, Kimberly says it is very important know that lung most cancers is quite common and doesn’t discriminate primarily based on age, gender, life-style habits, and so forth. For instance, the particular kind of lung most cancers that’s prevalent in Kimberly’s household is the commonest kind of lung most cancers seen in non-smokers.
Kimberly’s mom and aunt are actually two-time lung most cancers survivors. They’ll be taking part together with the remainder of Crimson’s Group this yr to help Most cancersCare’s free, skilled providers for anybody impacted by lung most cancers.
“I help Most cancersCare every year on the Lung Most cancers Stroll for Hope as a result of I feel it’s vital for most cancers sufferers and most cancers caregivers to have a spot the place they’ll discuss to somebody who understands their state of affairs,” Kimberly says. “Most cancersCare is a good outlet for folks with most cancers and their family members.”