Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Event Spreads Love and Hope

The founder of the advocacy group Team Draft called it “the largest gathering of lung cancer survivors at any lung cancer awareness event at a single cancer center.”

“Somebody needs to know that we care about them. They need to know that they’re not alone. They need to know that there is hope.” That message came from Chris Draft at the November “Shine the Light on Lung Cancer” event at Cone Health Cancer Center at Wesley Long Hospital. The special guest, former Carolina Panthers player and founder of Team Draft, knows more about lung cancer than most. He lost his wife— Keasha —to the disease 14 years ago.   

“I understand the importance of lifting up our community and making sure they know we care about them,” Draft added. The former linebacker called the Cone Health gathering, “… the biggest gathering of survivors in the world for an event during Lung Cancer Awareness Month.” More than 130 people were there.

With North Carolina lung cancer awareness advocate Chad Helton and Cone Health team members, Draft made enough large wooden white ribbons to ensure that all 54 lung cancer survivors in attendance received one. Each ribbon was signed on the back by supporters offering encouragement and hope to each recipient.

“Tonight, we want to honor you and let you know we support you; we love you, we care for you,” Helton said.

Lung cancer survivor Tonya Justice, who attended the event with her daughter, said she thought the event was great and loved seeing members of her care team.  “I’ve had a great, great team,” Justice said about her experience at Cone Health under the care of Dr. Robert Byrum. “The pulmonary rehabilitation team was awesome too. I can’t say enough about them. Fantastic!”

Nurse Shawn Perkins-- an oncology patient navigation manager—is one of many reconnecting with former patients. “This event matters,” Perkins said. “The people we care for are like family. We want to always encourage those we serve, always be here for our patients and their families, and always let them know how much we care.”

Learn more about lung cancer care and lung cancer screening at Cone Health.