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When Miles Lemkin’s wife Marcia succumbed to lung cancer in 2001, he sought to honor her memory and help others by increasing awareness of lung cancer, the leading cancer cause of death in North America. He established a foundation in his wife’s name, which sponsors the annual Marcia Lemkin Foundation 5K Road Race & Walk. Proceeds from the event benefit the Women’s Lung Surgery Program at BWH.
“I always heard how active researchers were and how focused and innovative physicians were at Brigham and Women’s,” Lemkin said. “That’s why my family decided to join their efforts in hopes of furthering lung cancer treatment.”
The Women’s Lung Surgery Program at the Gretchen and Edward Fish Center for Women’s Health at 850 Boylston St. offers innovative and integrated care for women. The multidisciplinary team is focused on delivering state-of-the-art care for women with lung cancer, and offers everything from screening to surgery.
“The Fish Center is important for how we frame our patient care and think about gender-related issues in lung cancer,” said Francine Jacobson, MD, MPH, of Radiology, who added that the Lemkins’ story is an inspiration to staff at the Fish Center.
“Lung cancer is not just a disease of smokers – it is a disease that affects us all and for which we must find a cure,” Yolonda Colson, MD, PhD, thoracic surgeon with the Women’s Lung Surgery Program, said. “Thanks to dedicated families like the Lemkins, we work every day towards this goal, which is reached one step at a time, just like a 5K road race.”
The fourth annual Marcia Lemkin Foundation 5K Road Race & Walk, is Sept. 17 in Lowell. For more information, visit www.marcialemkinlungcancerfoundation.org/