Balloon release draws attention to state’s No. 1 cancer killer
Mecklenburg County leads state
CHARLOTTE— (June 16, 2010) The Dusty Joy Foundation, a new nonprofit cultivating compassion for those touched by lung cancer, will conduct an educational rally and balloon release as part of the 4th annual North Carolina Comprehensive Cancer Program’s Survivors Summit. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 7:30 PM Friday, June 18, 2010, at the amphitheater in Marshall Park on McDowell and Second Streets in Uptown Charlotte.
Mecklenburg County leads the state in projected in lung cancer deaths and is tied with Wake County for the most new lung cancer diagnoses, according to the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry. The words “You have lung cancer,” will be spoken to 628 Mecklenburg County residents in 2010. Lung cancer will kill 471 county residents this year.
Based on the state’s projections, a total of 628 organic, biodegradable balloons will be released. Clear is lung cancer’s “color,” similar to pink for breast cancer. Clear balloons will represent the number of lives lost to lung cancer this year in Mecklenburg County. Red balloons will represent survivors or those living with lung cancer. The number of red balloons released is the difference between the Cancer Registry’s projection for new diagnoses and deaths. In this case, 157 red balloons will be released.
Dusty Donaldson, lung cancer survivor and founder of the Dusty Joy Foundation, will give a brief multimedia presentation about lung cancer during the Cancer Survivors Summit at Blake Hotel. Ms. Donaldson will share Uncommon Lung Cancer Facts. Following her presentation, participants will go across the street to Marshall Park for the balloon release.
In North Carolina, 7,772 new lung cancer cases and 5,914 lung cancer deaths are predicted for 2010. To increase awareness about lung cancer, the Dusty Joy Foundation will conduct a rally and balloon release in every county across the state of North Carolina. The program will expand to other states next year.
Lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer of men and women in the state and the nation. Lung cancer kills more than breast, colon, prostate, liver, kidney and melanoma cancers combined. Yet, lung cancer is the least funded of all major cancers. The mission of the Dusty Joy Foundation is to cultivate compassion for those touched by lung cancer through targeted programs promoting education, awareness and advocacy. The Foundation aspires to help pave the way for increased research funding leading to early detection of lung cancer.