Skiing for lungs (in Memory of Lisa Smirl)
Donation protected
Hi Friends!
This year I am turning 40 and as part of my 40th birthday celebration I've decided to raise funds for lung cancer research in memory of my oldest sister Lisa who never got the chance to cringe about turning 40. Lisa passed away at the age of 38 from lung cancer. She was a PhD, a professor, a marathon runner, a yogi, a daughter, sister and a wife. All the proceeds will go to funding research specifically for lung cancer via the Canadian Cancer society. As part of my fundraising efforts, I will ski* 400 km by March 19th 2021 which would have been Lisa’s 46th birthday. I will post my skiathon efforts on Facebook and Instagram and you can follow me there.
Lung cancer has the highest mortality of all cancers yet it is also the most underfunded cancers out there. Lung cancer research gets only 7% of funding and receives only .1% of cancer donations. This is largely due to stigma. Many think that only people who smoke get lung cancer. This is not true, radon is a leading cause, and Manitoba is a hot spot for radon. Yet even if it were true, people who smoke struggle with an incredibly powerful addiction and also deserve a cure and to be treated with dignity during treatment.
In addition to fundraising for cancer research, I hope to inspire people (including myself!) to stop fearing getting older, stop hiding our wrinkles, and embrace aging as a beautiful process that allows us to gain greater wisdom, insights, and amazing experiences! Aging is a privilege so let's enjoy it while we can.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Love, Ellen
Note: I've set this up as a personal fundraiser because in order for the funds to specifically go to lung cancer research it has to be noted during the donation process and does not occur during online donations.
*Possibly supplemented by walking, hiking, and biking if the snow conditions don’t allow for skiing
This year I am turning 40 and as part of my 40th birthday celebration I've decided to raise funds for lung cancer research in memory of my oldest sister Lisa who never got the chance to cringe about turning 40. Lisa passed away at the age of 38 from lung cancer. She was a PhD, a professor, a marathon runner, a yogi, a daughter, sister and a wife. All the proceeds will go to funding research specifically for lung cancer via the Canadian Cancer society. As part of my fundraising efforts, I will ski* 400 km by March 19th 2021 which would have been Lisa’s 46th birthday. I will post my skiathon efforts on Facebook and Instagram and you can follow me there.
Lung cancer has the highest mortality of all cancers yet it is also the most underfunded cancers out there. Lung cancer research gets only 7% of funding and receives only .1% of cancer donations. This is largely due to stigma. Many think that only people who smoke get lung cancer. This is not true, radon is a leading cause, and Manitoba is a hot spot for radon. Yet even if it were true, people who smoke struggle with an incredibly powerful addiction and also deserve a cure and to be treated with dignity during treatment.
In addition to fundraising for cancer research, I hope to inspire people (including myself!) to stop fearing getting older, stop hiding our wrinkles, and embrace aging as a beautiful process that allows us to gain greater wisdom, insights, and amazing experiences! Aging is a privilege so let's enjoy it while we can.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Love, Ellen
Note: I've set this up as a personal fundraiser because in order for the funds to specifically go to lung cancer research it has to be noted during the donation process and does not occur during online donations.
*Possibly supplemented by walking, hiking, and biking if the snow conditions don’t allow for skiing
Organizer
Ellen Smirl
Organizer
Falcon Beach, MB