Heather was one of the first patient advocates for Lung Cancer Support Community. Her initiatives enabled LCSC to become a part of LUNGevity Foundation.

In 2004, Heather pioneered LUNGevity’s first fundraising walk in South Jersey and raised $31,000. Before that, LUNGevity had never considered raising money through regional events.

Before her death, in May 2008, she helped raise over a quarter-million dollars! And there are now close to 40 events across the country.

Heather was a five-year survivor of advanced lung cancer – a highly uncommon scenario for lung cancer patients.

Despite her treatments and personal battle with the disease, she was determined to increase awareness of lung cancer, raise much-needed funds for lung cancer research and — as a nonsmoker — reduce the stigma associated with the disease.

Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths each year, killing more Americans than breast, prostrate, colorectal and pancreatic cancers combined. Approximately 50% of all Americans diagnosed have never smoked.