Volunteers wrap presents, decorate trees, sing carols, hang outdoor holiday lights, write cards and bring much needed help to lung cancer patients throughout the country

SAN CARLOS, Calif. and RIDGEFIELD, Conn. (December 7, 2017) — The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., have joined forces to make the season brighter for lung cancer patients through the “Bring Hope Home for the Holidays” partnership. This program is helping lung cancer patients make holiday memories across the nation through December 20, 2017.

With the support of ALCF, Boehringer Ingelheim volunteers are visiting lung cancer patients’ homes, delivering holiday help for people fighting lung cancer — the leading cause of cancer deaths nationally and in every state.  To help raise their spirits during the holidays, these volunteers will help lung cancer patients with holiday activities, such as trimming the tree, wrapping gifts, writing cards, or lighting the outside of the house.

“The holidays are hectic and wonderful moments for most. As a mother of three, I always wanted to make them magical for my family,” said Bonnie J. Addario, lung cancer survivor and founder and chair of the ALCF. “When I was diagnosed with lung cancer during the holidays, I found it almost impossible to make ‘magic’ for them. It broke my heart. This year it is our goal to ease the burden of patients by going to their homes and helping them prepare for the season. We are excited to partner with Boehringer Ingelheim and their amazing employees to help make a little magic for these patients and their families.”

“‘Bring Hope Home for the Holidays’ is a unique effort to give back to the lung cancer community and deliver cheer and joy to their homes during this special time of year,” said Jean-Michel Boers, president, Human Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “With the support of caring volunteers from Boehringer Ingelheim, we hope to make a positive difference in their lives and demonstrate the personal connection we feel with these remarkable people.”

Despite being the most deadly form of cancer, the stigma of lung cancer leads to underfunding. In fact, according to The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute, lung cancer is the number one cancer killer of men and women in every ethnic group in the U.S., taking more lives than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined. However, lung cancer research receives less funding than any other cancer, so it’s important to understand that eight in 10 lung cancer patients never smoked or quit smoking decades ago.

“‘Bring Hope Home for the Holidays’ is a seasonal reminder that we need to provide loving support to people fighting this leading cancer killer,” said Addario. “Our goal is to transform lung cancer into a chronically managed disease and eventually find a cure.”
To learn more about “Bring Hope Home for the Holidays,” visit http://www.lungcancerfoundation.org/bringhopehome/

About “Bring Hope Home for the Holidays”
The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) and Boehringer Ingelheim are committed to making this holiday season brighter, with their “Bring Hope Home for the Holidays” national effort. The program recognizes the hardships faced by lung cancer patients and, through the support of volunteers, will deliver holiday help and cheer to patients in their homes in 21 U.S. cities. For more information, visit http://www.lungcancerfoundation.org/bringhopehome/

About the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF)
The Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) is one of the largest international philanthropies (patient-founded, patient-focused and patient-driven) devoted exclusively to eradicating lung cancer through research, early detection, education and treatment. The Foundation’s goal is to work with a diverse group of physicians, organizations, industry partners, individuals, patients, survivors and their families to identify solutions and make timely and meaningful change and turn lung cancer into a chronically managed disease by 2023. The ALCF was established on March 1, 2006, as a 501c(3) non-profit organization and has raised more than $30 million for lung cancer research and related programs. For more information about the ALCF please visit www.lungcancerfoundation.org or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.