Registration open for Running Lungs benefit race
Take part in the annual Running Lungs benefit race, set for Saturday, June 2nd! The event will go on rain or shine beginning at 9:30am in Lindley Park. The morning will include 10K, 5K Run/Walk, and 2K Fun Run course options. Snacks and beverages will be available by Cafe M. Also on hand will be a Mayo Clinic researcher to discuss the disease and sign interested parties up for the Longitudinal Lung Health Study.
Race registration is $35 for the 10K and 5K courses. The 2K is $25 for kids ages 12 and under. Log on to www.raceentry.com and search for ‘Running Lungs’ for further information, details on the First2Burst Lung Challenge, and to register. Race timing will be provided by Muddy Dog Sports. Online race registration closes on Friday, June 1st at 7pm. Also on June 1st, the evening before the race, a packet pick-up event will take place at Bozeman Running Company from 2–6pm. And mark your calendars! An additional Running Lungs event is set for Saturday, July 21st in Big Sky. Stay tuned for details.
Lung cancer is NOT just a smoker’s disease. Presented by Wortman Lung Cancer Foundation, proceeds from this race will support lung health and lung cancer research at Mayo Clinic. Race participants will additionally support the foundation’s objectives to support research needed to obtain breakthrough discoveries, remove the stigma associated with lung cancer, and help create an awareness of the amazing cures when properly diagnosed and treated.
Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer, taking more lives than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Every 2.5 minutes, another person is diagnosed with Lung Cancer – 20% never smoked, and 40% are non-smokers. The numbers are pretty surprising.
But there’s hope.
Linda Wortman, a healthy never-smoker, was shockingly diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008. After successful emergency surgery at Mayo Clinic, Linda battled through, and now is on a mission to break the stigma that lung cancer is only for smokers, while increasing awareness through Running Lungs events to raise desperately needed research funds for lung cancer. With most of her left lung missing, Linda completed a 5k race in all 50 states, completed a 10K race on four continents, and summited Kilimanjaro, the largest mountain in Africa and fourth tallest peak in the world.
Most recently, Linda and husband Jerry co-founded Wortman Lung Cancer Foundation 501(c)(3) and Running Lungs Run/Walk events. As oncologists and donors point out, low funding levels for lung cancer are a negative cycle that results in fewer scientists focusing on needed solutions. Lung cancer is the least-researched major cancer due to unfair stigma.
It’s time to blow lung cancer away.
Learn more about Linda and Jerry’s work at www.wortmanlungcancerfoundation.org. •
