An informative and supportive lung cancer vigil was held in the Inlet Town Hall on Thursday evening, November 13.
Organized by Adele Burnett, whose father died of lung cancer, and Margie O’Hara, whose brother also died of lung cancer, this gathering was one of thousands held around the United States and in several foreign countries on the same date.
The Lung Cancer Alliance sponsors these vigils to bring attention to this disease, which causes more deaths annually than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer combined.
The Inlet vigil consisted of a welcome by Adele and Margie, followed by a blessing of those in attendance by Pastor Phil Huber of the Inlet Community Church.
Beverly Chambers Ischia, FNP, then gave an interesting and informative update on advances in lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Photos and photo boards, as well as names of those who died of the disease in our area, were displayed on the memory table.
The names were read by Dianne Thibado, whose grandfather died of lung cancer, and those present paused to remember them.
Personal stories were also shared.
This was the third annual vigil held in Inlet, and, unfortunately, the number of names has steadily increased each year.
And these are only the names of lung cancer victims who are friends or loved ones from the Inlet/Old Forge area.
This year, over forty names were read at the Inlet vigil alone.
Luminaries were available for those present to write messages on and light as memorials.
The evening concluded with refreshments and camaraderie.
The purpose of these vigils is to bring lung cancer to everyone’s attention, especially the members of Congress, so that greater funding for research into this devastating disease will be made available.
Unfortunately, lung cancer has a stigma attached to it. Some people make the assumption that a victim of lung cancer must have been a smoker and, thus, brought it on him or herself.
Although there is no doubt that smoking causes lung cancer, it is not the only factor involved. The message is clear: all cancers must be addressed, lung cancer included.
To learn more about lung cancer, find resources for you and your family or see how you can make a difference, log on to www.lungcanceralliance.org.