It’s been over a week now since I spoke at the First Annual Breathe Free Walk to End Lung Cancer, which gave me a unique opportunity to connect with a few caregivers and fellow patients. I was honored to be able to offer some (non-medical) advice and reassurance, as well as to hear the heartfelt stories that I was lucky enough to have shared with me. Although I previously posted the transcript of my short speech, I’m including a video of it below, along with the opening remarks provided by the event’s beneficiaries, the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society.

Since returning to Los Angeles, I continued to participate in Lung Cancer Awareness Month by attending the Shine a Light event hosted by Huntington Memorial Hospital, where I had been a speaker last year.

Gratitude, Thanks and Appreciation

To those who attended the Breathe Free Walk, you have our deep gratitude. It was more successful than anticipated and managed to raise over twice what we were told to expect from a “good” turnout for a first-time event. My mother, who gets most of the credit for organizing the walk and all of the credit for bringing the various sponsors and supporters together, had worked tirelessly to pull it off and for that I thank her. She already knows how much I appreciate her efforts, but it is always worth the public acknowledgment. If you get a chance, you should thank her again on my behalf — especially since she has already committed to doing it again next November when Lung Cancer Awareness Month rolls back around.

And for those of you who continue to give, whether through the Breathe Free Crowdrise portal or directly to the research institution of your choice, words cannot express how meaningful and important such donations are.

And now, for your viewing pleasure, a visual recap of the 2016 First Annual Breathe Free Walk to End Lung Cancer, held at the beautiful Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina. (Scroll past all the stills to get to the video…)

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