July 10, 2009
Besides lobbying for increased research and attention to lung cancer, LCA makes a point of confronting the terrible stigma attached to lung cancer (given its association with smoking in the mind of most people. Of course, not even smokers "deserve" lung cancer, but plenty of non-smokers, such as my sister who died of lung cancer in August 2008 and who never smoked, suffer not just the illness itself but also the attached stigma. This reminds me very much of the early days of AIDS when this terrible sense of guilt and debate over "innocent" victims as opposed to those who were thought somehow to be "deserving" of their illness. LCA is a powerful voice against this kind of ignorance.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the positive response I get when I send their e-mail links to friends and family around the country.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
probably call for certain forms of civil disobedience similar to actions taken during the AIDS crisis by groups such as ACT UP.
More feedback
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the steady flow of information that I know is accurate.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
always polite, informed, and never preaching.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
move the national conversation on cancer of all kinds front and center, working for a cure.
Ways to make it better...
my sister had lived to speak on behalf of lung cancer survivors the way LCA does.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
fighting the stigmas still attached to lung cancer and persuading the government to fully fund lung cancer research.
One thing I'd also say is that...
I wish this organization did not have to exist.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
MY ROLE:
General Member of the Public & I discuss lung cancer at every opportunity including just going about everyday normal activities. LCA keeps me informed of latest info.