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Lung Cancer Advocate Delivers Keynote, Calls for Stories
Photo by Randy Belice
On Monday, October 20, lung cancer advocate and former NFL linebacker, Chris Draft, presented a keynote titled "How the Game Has Changed: Raising Cancer Awareness and the Crucial Catch Initiative." During the emotionally charged talk, Draft challenged attendees to make sure that the general public and elected officials know that research matters, but to tackle that task as "one team" with "one fight," not as individual cancer leaders or organizations.
"We are going to keep pounding, not just as individuals, but as a team," he said. "If research matters, it’s not just about the people doing the research, but about the people who benefit from it."
Draft opened his presentation with an NFL video about his wife's experiences as a young patient with stage IV lung cancer and his journey as her partner and caregiver. He was married to Kesha Routledge for five weeks before she passed away at age 38. During their brief marriage, Draft said that, together, they "made every breath count."
After sharing his story, Draft called on cancer center leaders to tell their own "crucial catch" stories about discovering cancer in early stages, when treatment is most effective. Case studies included mobile lung cancer screening programs that have improved outcomes in rural communities.
Describing effective advocacy, Draft noted that people need to see themselves reflected in stories and know that cancer researchers are working hard and making progress for patients. "They won’t know it unless we go tell them, and we need to be excited about it," he said.
In honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, Draft is calling on all AACI members to let him know how their cancer centers are tackling lung cancer head on. Please share your cancer center's Lung Cancer Awareness Month events, research highlights, and success stories directly with Draft.