CVS launches campaign to raise funds for lung cancer research

JUTTA BECKER, center, is one of the American Lung Association's LUNG FORCE heroes. She is shown with American Lung Association of the Northeast CEO Jeff Seyler and American Lung Association National Board Chair Kate Forbes. / COURTESY AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
JUTTA BECKER, center, is one of the American Lung Association's LUNG FORCE heroes. She is shown with American Lung Association of the Northeast CEO Jeff Seyler and American Lung Association National Board Chair Kate Forbes. / COURTESY AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION

WOONSOCKET – Jutta Becker is living with stage 4 lung cancer, and she is one of the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE heroes, helping to raise awareness about the disease.
Four years ago, the 61-year-old North Smithfield resident was given six months to live.
“Thanks to targeted therapy, I’m still here,” Becker said in a telephone interview recently.
Today, CVS Health Corp. launched its third annual LUNG FORCE fundraising campaign in its stores and online as part of its ongoing partnership with the American Lung Association.
CVS customers can contribute to the campaign through June 11, and funds will support the association’s LUNG FORCE initiative to increase lung health education and fund research to help improve early detection methods for lung cancer patients.
According to information from CVS, in Rhode Island alone, lung cancer took the lives of 319 women in 2014. The American Lung Association said it is the No. 1 cancer killer of women in the United States.
Becker said she found out she had lung cancer after visiting a doctor for a bad cough. She thought it was “just a cough,” and not cancer, which delayed the diagnosis. She said she does not know how she got lung cancer. A retired jewelry designer, she said she smoked very little in her younger years and grew up in a non-smoking household.
“You don’t need to smoke to get lung cancer,” Becker said. “I say, ‘If you have lungs, you can get lung cancer.’ The only thing that should be going into your lungs is oxygen.”
Becker said she wants to raise awareness about the disease. She noted CVS’ LUNG FORCE campaign ties in well with its decision to stop selling cigarettes.
Education is key to fighting the disease, she said.
“We as patients have choices now and doctors leave those choices up to us. We or our caregivers need to be educated to advocate for us and make the best possible decisions,” Becker said.
She also represented Rhode Island at the LUNG FORCE advocacy day in March in Washington, D.C., and, for the second year, has organized a team, Jutta’s Amigos, for the LUNG FORCE walk on June 11 in Warwick. Her goal is to raise $3,000.
Eileen Howard Boone, senior vice president, corporate social responsibility and philanthropy, CVS Health, said Becker’s story resonated with the company.
“Like so many others, her life was changed in an instant when she was unexpectedly diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. It is for women like her that CVS Health is proud to be the national presenting sponsor of LUNG FORCE,” Boone said.

Boone said the company became involved in the LUNG FORCE initiative as part of its choice two years ago to stop selling tobacco products.
“Through our in-store campaign, we are continuing to make significant strides in helping women understand the prevalence of lung cancer and advance our commitment to helping people lead tobacco-free lives,” Boone said.
She said that since CVS launched the LUNG FORCE in-store fundraising campaign in 2014, CVS Health colleagues and customers have helped to raise more than $7 million for the initiative.

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