The White Ribbon Project
Supporting Lung Cancer Patients and Survivors
As part of its commitment to raise lung cancer awareness, St. Elizabeth Healthcare is proud to partner with the White Ribbon Project. Created in October 2020 by a lung cancer survivor in Greenwood Village, Colorado, this program has quickly gathered momentum in celebrating lung cancer patients and survivors and promoting lung cancer awareness across the nation.
Dr. Gieske Wins “C2 Catalyst for Change” Award
The Cancer Community Awards, hosted by YOUR Cancer —a partnership between AstraZeneca and Scientific American Custom Media, Dr. Michael Gieske’s was awarded C2 Catalyst for Change Award for his work with the White Ribbon Project.
The C2 awards spotlight individuals/organizations for their inspiring work to create a brighter future for people with cancer and their loved ones. The White Ribbon Project will receive a $50,000 grant.
“Anyone with Lungs Can Get Lung Cancer”
Fitness instructor Heidi Nafman-Onda was shocked to be diagnosed with stage IIIA adenocarcinoma lung cancer in October 2018 at the age of 55. As a healthy and active non-smoker, lung cancer was never on her radar. Heidi had a CT scan for workup of an ovarian cyst, with elevated tumor marker, when the radiologist spotted a mass on her lung and two enlarged lymph nodes. This lung cancer diagnosis took an emotional toll on Heidi and her family. The assumption that Heidi is a long-time smoker continues to frustrate her, even after successfully completing treatment and moving into survivorship. St. Elizabeth, along with groups like the White Ribbon Project, hopes to help disassociate this stigma from lung cancer.
“I never smoked a day in my life.”
Ashley Thomas shares her stage IV lung cancer diagnosis and what the White Ribbon Project means to her.
Lung Cancer can happen to anyone
Michelle Schwarberg discusses the support and hope she found from other lung cancer survivors after stage IV lung cancer diagnosis.
Raising Awareness
Heidi and her husband, Pierre, decided to channel their frustration into action. They created a large white ribbon door hanger out of plywood and posted a photo in a private Facebook group for Colorado lung cancer patients. The idea immediately caught on, and Heidi and Pierre were flooded with white ribbon door hanger requests. The White Ribbon Project was born. White ribbons are shipped throughout the United States and Canada at zero cost to lung cancer patients, survivors, healthcare systems, teams and individuals united in the fight.
Schedule a Screening Today
To see if you qualify visit, stelizabeth.com/lung
