My Many Fundraisers for Lung Cancer

When I was diagnosed with lung cancer, I knew I had to make a difference. I’m not afraid to speak about it or share my journey. So, I made it my mission to do whatever I can to help raise money for lung cancer research, especially for ALK-positive.

How can I make a difference?

When I opened my CrossFit gym back in 2016 I started a fundraiser “Zumbathon for Lung Cancer” and raised over $1,000. It was a very proud moment for me because not only was I raising funds for lung cancer research, but I was helping my lung cancer community live longer as well as myself! I knew this was something that I can do every year and so I did. I had my Zumbathon for Lung Cancer every November at my gym and I took that opportunity to bring awareness and educate those that attended the fundraiser. I would pass out literature, bracelets, lung cancer ribbon stickers, and anything that had to do with lung cancer. I even had vendors set up during the fundraiser.

But when my gym closed for good because of the pandemic my Zumbathon for Lung Cancer was gone too. It was very hard for me to say goodbye to both but especially the Zumbathon for Lung Cancer. I had to think of other ways to do a fundraiser for lung cancer. So, when my unit did a fundraiser on FB for breast cancer with Mary Kay products that’s when the light bulb went on in my head. I thought why not do the same for lung cancer and “Loteria for Lungs” was born.

The beginnings of “Loteria for Lungs”

With the help and ideas from my pink sister Christine, we did Loteria for Lungs and it was a success. We held it in November of 2021, and I was able to raise nearly $300 and which was donated to ALK-positive for research. I’m super excited for this November to do it again and hope to get more ladies and gentlemen to participate and raise more money for research! Those that attended the Loteria for Lungs fundraiser were so happy to win free Mary Kay products, but they were also so happy to be a part of this great event!

What is loteria?

Loteria is Mexican bingo. Lotería (Spanish word meaning "lottery") is a traditional game of chance, similar to bingo, but using images on a deck of cards instead of numbered ping pong balls. So, we did it with images of Mary Kay products and had those that paid to pick out 5 cards. It was a success and looking forward to doing it again this November (2022).

Recently I had a friend that is a Zumba instructor reached out to me to continue the Zumbathon for Lung Cancer at her place and we did. But the name was changed to “Dancing for a Cure” to raise money for ALK-positive lung cancer research and that was born in August of 2022. We raised over $200 and that too was a great success, but we decided to move the event to next year in June.

My family is my strength

I had the honor to speak to these ladies about the facts of lung cancer and my journey with it and my granddaughter was present. She’s only 4 and doesn’t understand of course but just to have her there knowing that I was told I would never meet grandchildren was a great honor for me. I plan to take her every year so she can see what a strong and fearless grandma she has, and I do it to see her grow up.