COVID-19 has called out foundation into renewed action. While WLCF is still focused on lung health and fundraising for lung cancer and lung health research, riffing off of our First2Burst campaigns and socially distancing ourselves from races, today we challenge you to blow up a balloon bouquet and show it off! If you don’t have a balloon look at #FIRST2BURST Lung Challenge, or blow up a glove.

Hang those balloons and your glove on your front door to show support for all those lungs recovering from COVID 19 and/or lung disease.

Use your own balloons or gloves. Or make a donation by purchasing your balloons from WLCF or you can also use your own balloons too! Make a donation to WortmanLungCancerFoundation(501)(c)(3). Most importantly do this to have something to smile about and give others HOPE. Share the Lung Challenge to help raise lung health awareness & desperately needed research funds.

Take a picture or make a video of yourself, of your loves ones, your family, kids, present the balloon bouquet to family, friends, your hard working front line employees for the #FIRST2BURST Lung Challenge. Blow up a balloon! Hang it on your door. Donate “A Buck A Blow.” Together we can help BLOW COVID-19 AWAY & Help stamp out Pulmonary Lung Diseases.

Join us as we give hope, raise awareness, support desperately needed researchers. 100% of funds raised with our Balloon Bouquet efforts will go towards research grants for COVID19 recovery and lung health research.

We’ve learned a lot from lung cancer and the importance of advocacy and raising desperately needed research funds for our front line medical teams.

WLCF can’t wait to see your balloon bouquet! Share it & tag us:

#WLCF @WortmanLungCancerFoundation

Not just a smoker's disease.

Every 2.5 minutes, another person is diagnosed with Lung Cancer. 20% never smoked. 40% are non-smokers. The numbers are pretty surprising.

But there is hope.

Linda Wortman, a healthy never-smoker, was shockingly diagnosed with Lung Cancer in 2008. Linda battled through, and now is on a mission to break the stigma that Lung Cancer is only for smokers, while increasing awareness thru Running Lungs events to raise desperately needed research funds for lung cancer. With most of her left lung missing, Linda completed a 5k race in all 50 states, completed a 10K race on four continents, and summited Kilimanjaro, the largest mountain in Africa and 4th tallest peak in the world.

Most recently, Linda and Jerry co-founded Wortman Lung Cancer Foundation 501(c)(3) and Running Lungs Run/Walk events. As oncologists and donors point out, low funding levels for lung cancer are a negative cycle that results in fewer scientist focusing on needed solutions. Lung cancer is the least-researched major cancer due to unfair stigma.

It's time to blow lung cancer away.

Making a Difference

Linda listens to Dr Bruce Johnson as he explains Lung Fun Facts.jpg

Longitudinal Lung Health Project

Past funded project: Together, our goal is to better understand the link between environment, lifestyle and genetics on lung health to accelerate research, eduction and prevention of lung disease.

Learn more about study participation »

#First2Burst Challenge

Paused due to Covid. Record a video of yourself bursting a balloon by blowing it up too far. Test your lungs and have fun. Post the video to social media and nominate someone else to do the same or donate to end Lung Cancer. Use hashtag #FIRST2BURST

Challenge details »

Races & Events

Paused due to Covid. After Linda Wortman was diagnosed with lung cancer, her goal to run a 5K in all 50 states to raise awareness and research funding. She did. Now Running Lungs events are hosted around the country.

See upcoming races & events »

Learn

Did you know that your lungs have the surface area of a tennis court? Do you know the common warning signs to look for with lung cancer? And do you know the most common risk factors?

Check out our educational content »