Download Inspiring Lung Cancer Event Held at Boston`s Iconic Prudential Center

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Inspiring Lung Cancer Event Held at Boston’s Iconic Prudential Center
Ward Hill, MA, December 5, 2016 – The average person takes 673 million breaths in their lifetime. Most
never think twice about the natural act of breathing, but for more than 158,000 Americans this year
alone who have died or will die from lung cancer, breath is literally a matter of life and death. Even
though lung cancer is the top cancer killer of both men and women, awareness of and funding for the
disease are lacking when compared with other leading cancers. Shine A Light on Lung Cancer events
seek to change this.
“I realized how precious life was, and how precious breath was,” said Emcee Jordan Rich (host of The
Jordan Rich Show on Boston’s WBZ NewsRadio 1310), kicking off the Shine A Light on Lung Cancer
event held at the Prudential Center in Boston on Wednesday, November 30th. This event, hosted by
Lung Cancer Alliance and LUNGSTRONG, is one of over 200 Shine A Light events held across 38 states
during the month of November. Shine A Light works to bring together people affected by lung cancer
to share their stories and raise awareness in their community.
The first speaker of the evening was Dr. Alice Shaw, Director of Thoracic Oncology at the
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, who advocates for revolutionizing patient care and
saving lives through individualized treatment. Dr. Shaw was followed by lung cancer survivor, Laura
Salvo, who earned a standing ovation after her moving story chronicling her brave and tireless battle
with lung cancer.
“Cancer can happen to anyone. As much as I wish I didn’t have to be on this journey, I have learned
much about life and what is truly important,” said Salvo, through tears, who was joined by her
husband on stage. A nonsmoker, a lifelong athlete, and a follower of an organic lifestyle, Salvo is the
embodiment of the fact that anyone can get lung cancer.
The final keynote speaker of the evening was former NFL player Chris Draft, whose wife, a
nonsmoker, passed away several years ago from lung cancer. Draft is the Founder, President, and
CEO of the Chris Draft Family Foundation (CDFF) and the Team Draft Initiative. Joking that he could
not tell the lung cancer survivors in attendance from the other audience members, Draft highlighted
the evening’s message that lung cancer survivors look just like everyone else and that truly anyone
with lungs is at risk for lung cancer.
Every speaker throughout the evening addressed the need to fight the stigma that lung cancer is only
a smoker’s disease. This fight is a familiar one for RadonAway, one of the major sponsors of the Shine
A Light event. RadonAway, a division of Spruce Environmental Technologies, Inc., is a leading
manufacturer of radon testing equipment and mitigation fans, as well as an international advocate
for radon-induced lung cancer awareness.
“It’s mind-boggling when you realize that so many people still don’t know that radon is the leading
cause of lung cancer for nonsmokers and the second overall,” said Leia Jane Zidel, one of
RadonAway’s representatives at the event. RadonAway gave away free radon test kits during the
evening’s informational fair and spoke with attendees about the dangers of radon, found in
hazardous concentrations in 1 of every 6 American homes. Even those attendees who had some
knowledge of radon were surprised to learn that the radioactive, carcinogenic gas is responsible for
21,000 lung cancer deaths every year in the U.S. alone.
LUNGSTRONG Founder and event organizer Diane Legg summarized the evening with a statement
about the importance of storytelling. “I think the most important thing you can do is to tell your
story,” said Legg. “In sharing your story, you raise awareness.” Despite the somber tone of the lung
cancer stories told throughout the evening, the overwhelming message was one of hope.
Attendees looked on as special guest Brandon King, second year Defensive Back and Special Teams
for the New England Patriots, closed the evening by flipping the switch to light up the Prudential
Tower with blue light for all those affected by lung cancer. The 920-foot tower stayed lit all night,
shining blue over Boston through the fog – a fitting image of hope.
About Spruce Environmental Technologies, Inc.:
Spruce Environmental Technologies, Inc., an ENERGY STAR Partner, was founded more than 25 years ago with
the purpose of making indoor air safer. Spruce is the parent company of RadonAway, the world’s leading
manufacturer and distributor of radon mitigation fans and supplies, and AccuStar Labs, which manufactures
and analyzes radon test devices in certified laboratories in Medway, MA and Lebanon, PA. The company also
owns RCi in Carmel, IN, a leading radon mitigation supplies distributor, and has additional distribution centers
in Denver, CO, and Toronto, Canada. Spruce is committed to saving lives through creating a healthier indoor
environment and through radon awareness, testing and mitigation; it is a founding supporter of Cancer
Survivors Against Radon (CanSAR) and a long-time member and supporter of the American Association of
Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST). The company is also a member of NAHB, Basement Health
Association, American Association of Home Inspectors, Water Quality Association, Canadian Association of
Radon Scientists and Technologists, UK Radon Association, European Radon Association, and other
organizations dedicated to better indoor air and water quality.