SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- November is Lung Cancer Awareness month and we salute these three uniquely inspiring and powerful personal missions. Together, with the ongoing momentum of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (BJALCF), the Addario Lung Cancer Medial Institute (ALCMI), Jill's Legacy™, and the committed, collaborative efforts with the health industry, 17 U.S. and international universities and other foundations such as Michael Milken's FasterCures, and community hospitals where most cancer patients are being treated, we will change the survival rate for Lung Cancer, which has been hovering at an unacceptable 15.9%. For BJALCF, every day is about Lung Cancer—and every month evidences that.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121126/DC18075 ) 
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110630/DC28681LOGO-b )

Now it's your turn to be energized by three heroes who are rising up to take Lung Cancer down.

WebMD Announces Patient and Founder Bonnie J. Addario as a 2012 Health Heroes Winner
WebMD Health Corp. (Nasdaq: WBMD), the leading source of health information, announced its 2012 WebMD Health Heroes award winners. Now in its seventh year, WebMD's Health Heroes awards celebrate extraordinary Americans who met a health challenge and gave back to others in an inspiring way. This year's winners include extraordinary people who pushed past adversity with passion, inspiration, and innovation and extended health solutions and support to others. READ FULL ARTICLE ON BONNIE • WATCH THE VIDEO

"To be chosen by such an admired and respected publication in the Health Industry is truly an honor and will really increase awareness for this disease," said Bonnie J. Addario.

"WebMD health heroes are inspiring individuals who encourage health and wellness in each of their communities," said Clare Martorana, Editor in Chief, WebMD the Magazine. "We are excited to celebrate their continued achievements and support their goals to make an impact in the lives of those facing their own health challenges."

24-year-old Kelcey Harrison is Running Across America in The Great Lung Run
Ms. Harrison, a Harvard graduate working as a Trial Division Program Coordinator in the Manhattan District Attorney's office, made it her mission to run across the country, 30-40 miles a day, for Lung Cancer Awareness in loving memory of her childhood friend, Jill Costello, whose dream–while alive–was to beat Lung Cancer for all patients.

"My mission is to honor Jill's memory and achieve her dream of beating Lung Cancer for all Lung Cancer patients – big time!" explained Harrison." My friend Jill was a 22-year-old never smoker when she was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. It's important to share the message that anyone, even young athletes like Jill, can get Lung Cancer. I hope that by running across the country I will inspire people to join the fight against Lung Cancer–the most deadly form of cancer in both men and women worldwide. My goal is to help all people with Lung Cancer. That was Jill's dream and we intend to finish it."

The Great Lung Run was featured on Monday, October 22, on the nationally syndicated daytime talk show, The Doctors. Click here to view. For information on the arrival parties on December 1^st and 6^th, go to www.jillslegacy.org, darby@lungcancerfoundation.org or 949.293.2093.

The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and UCSF Thoracic Oncology Lung Cancer Program are named beneficiaries of the proceeds from the sale of property from The Vertical Art Collection™: Walking Sticks being held at Christie's this month in their Important Russian Art sale in London, today, November 26, and in their 500 Years Decorative Arts Europe sale in New York on November 30.

View press release. Please visit www.christies.com for more information and the e-catalogues.

The owner of this impressive collection, who chooses to remain anonymous, has–over the years–taken a leading role in supporting the Foundation's vision to make Lung Cancer a Survivable Disease, and with this auction, is making some visual noise as well.

BJALCF also receives an ongoing grant from the proceeds of the sale of an associated art book, Vertical Art: The Enduring Beauty of Antique Canes and Walking Sticks www.verticalartcanebook.com

For interviews and press inquiries, please contact sheila@lungcancerfoundation.org or 415.357.1278.

About the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation
Patient-founded, patient-focused, and patient-driven, BJALCF is of the largest philanthropies devoted exclusively to eradicating Lung Cancer through research, early detection, education, and treatment. The Foundation works with a diverse group of physicians, organizations, industry partners, individuals, survivors, and their families to identify solutions and make timely and meaningful change. BJALCF was established on March 1, 2006 as a 501c(3) non-profit organization and has raised over nine million dollars for Lung Cancer research. www.lungcancerfoundation.org

About Jill's Legacy
Jill's Legacy is a group of young adults who formed originally in honor of Jill, but now consists of young adults across the U.S. that 

have lost family to Lung Cancer and are focused on curing this disease. It is a subsidiary of BJALCF.  www.jillslegacy.org

About the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI) ALCMI, as a patient-founded translational research consortium, directly catalyzes and accelerates the discovery, development and delivery of new and more effective treatment options for lung cancer patients. ALCMI has established a centralized, standardized biorepository with associated clinical data to serve as a resource to investigators within and without our consortium member institutions.  Currently, 17 leading academic medical centers and community hospitals in the United States and Europe have contractually joined together under ALCMI's leadership, collaborating on cutting edge research initiatives.  For more information please contact Mr. Steven Young, president of ALCMI, at 203.226.5765 or syoung@alcmi.net.  www.alcmi.net

SOURCE Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation