Libby’s Lungs

06/12/2026

Elizabeth believed her voice could make a difference. This week, a United States Senator proved her right.

Earlier this week, the United States Senate unanimously passed the Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act, bipartisan legislation directing the federal government to better understand why lung cancer rates are rising among women, particularly those who have never smoked.

In her statement, Senator Shelley Moore Capito said this:
"West Virginia has long been deeply impacted by lung cancer, and while we've made progress, more must be done to expand prevention, early detection, and treatment. I was fortunate enough to meet with one of my constituents, Elizabeth de Jong, who underscored how uniquely this disease affects women. Now that our legislation has unanimously passed the Senate, we are one step closer to helping advance the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer among women across our state."

Her name in that statement is a reminder that every voice, every conversation, every story shared matters. Elizabeth was one of thousands who showed up, and this moment belongs to all of them — the patients, caregivers, nurses, researchers, and advocates who refused to let lung cancer stay in the shadows. Nearly a decade of work by GO2 for Lung Cancer, Elridge Proctor and 18 leading organizations helped bring this here.

But the work is not finished. The House and Senate must still reconcile their bills before this becomes law. Every voice still matters. Please take a moment to send a message to Congress and help get this across the finish line. Link in the comments.

Elizabeth would not have called this a victory. She would have called it a start.

Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) announced their bipartisan legislation passed the Senate. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate with the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans’ Affairs to conduct a comprehensive review acros...

06/10/2026

We are proud to announce the recipients of this year's Libby Do Award.

Each year at the Hope in Every Breath Fundraiser, Libby's Lungs honors individuals who share what Elizabeth de Jong believed: that lung cancer patients deserve more, and that one person's commitment can help make that possible. This year, we are honoring two people whose careers reflect exactly that.

🔹 Dr. Steven A. Burton, MD
A Clinical Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a longtime physician at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Dr. Burton dedicated more than three decades to advancing cancer care, research, and education. A pioneer in stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy, his work expanded treatment possibilities for lung, pancreatic, and metastatic CNS cancers and influenced practice patterns around the world. He also co-founded the Radiation Oncology Residency Program at UPMC in 2002, shaping the next generation of oncologists. Dr. Burton retired in December 2025, leaving behind a legacy of compassionate, patient-centered care that will not be forgotten.

🔹 Annette Quinn, MSN, RN, OCN
Annette Quinn's career in oncology nursing spans more than two decades. She served as a Program Manager at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center for over 20 years, helping shape patient-centered programs and supporting the multidisciplinary teams that care for cancer patients every day. She currently serves as a Clinical Nurse Educator with Ipsen, contributing to national initiatives that elevate patient outcomes and professional practice. Her dedication to oncology nursing education has touched thousands of patients and clinicians across the region.

We are deeply honored to recognize Dr. Steven Burton and Annette Quinn at the 3rd Annual Hope in Every Breath Fundraiser on Friday, August 14, 2026 at Pittsburgh's Grand Hall at The Priory.

Join us that evening to celebrate their contributions and support the lung cancer patients who need us.

Tickets start at $225. Tables of 6 available at $1,500.

👉 givebutter.com/Libby26

06/09/2026

Some real movement and momentum. Now let’s get this across the finish line. We are beyond grateful for Senator Shelley Moore Capito who has been a constant champion of this legislation since Elizabeth first visited with her during a Go2 Voices Summit in 2018.

06/03/2026

Behind every mission is a team that believes in it deeply.

Libby's Lungs is guided by a board that brings together patients, oncology nurses, patient advocates, and care partners, all united by a shared conviction that lung cancer patients deserve better research, better support, and a community that shows up for them.

Our board includes:

🔹 Sven de Jong — Co-founder and President, strategic marketing and communications executive, former caregiver, advocate, and Go2 For Lung Cancer Voices Summit Planning Committee member
🔹 Emma Genser, BSN, RN — Oncology nurse with 10 years at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and facilitator of the Lung Cancer Support Group at Cancer Bridges
🔹 Stephanie Kaiser, M.S.N., CRNP, AOCNP — Elizabeth's former oncology nurse practitioner, who walked alongside her through the hardest days and carries that experience into everything she brings to this organization
🔹 Colleen Conner Ziegler — ALK+ NSCLC patient and Board Chair of the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, bringing deep expertise in lung cancer research advocacy and patient-centered initiatives
🔹 Tom Ziegler — Care partner and business leader who has dedicated his advocacy to improving outcomes for lung cancer patients alongside his wife Colleen

Advisor and Volunteer Liaison:
🔹 Jen Cosgrove — ALK+ NSCLC patient, mother of three, and a lung cancer fundraiser and advocate who forged a lasting friendship with Elizabeth in 2018 and remains a dedicated part of this mission

Elizabeth's mission lives on — and so does the work of making sure every lung cancer patient has someone in their corner.

Learn more at libbyslungs.org/board

Meet the Board of Directors of Libby's Lungs, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit dedicated to funding lung cancer research and supporting patients in the greater Pittsburgh region.

05/27/2026

Sponsorship is more than a logo on a table. It's your organization joining a community of people who believe lung cancer research matters and that patients deserve more.

The Hope in Every Breath Fundraiser — August 14, 2026 at Pittsburgh's Grand Hall at The Priory — is among the most personal and purposeful evenings in Pittsburgh's nonprofit calendar. And we're still looking for sponsors who share what Elizabeth de Jong believed: that no patient should be without hope.

Sponsorship levels start at $2,500 (Adventurer Sponsor) and go up to $15,000 (Presenting Globetrotter Sponsor — only one available). All sponsors receive event recognition, program advertising, website and social media mentions, VIP seating, and exhibitor space.

We are deeply grateful to the organizations that have already committed their support this year. Their generosity is what makes this evening — and this mission possible.

To learn more or join them, please visit givebutter.com/Libby26.

Let's do this together.

05/20/2026

Why are women who have never smoked being diagnosed with lung cancer at rising rates? That's the question Dr. Laura Stabile's laboratory at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is working to answer — and it's the research Libby's Lungs is proud to fund.

Nearly 20% of all lung cancer deaths occur in people who have never smoked. In 2025, women under 50 were diagnosed with lung cancer at higher rates than men the same age. Dr. Stabile's lab is investigating how hormonal pathways, genetic mutations, and environmental factors drive lung cancer in women, pointing toward treatments that better match the biology of the disease.

Here's how every dollar you give is put to work: 80% funds cutting-edge lung cancer research at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and 20% goes directly to patient support services. Every dollar serves a patient because research and support go hand in hand. https://www.libbyslungs.org/research

Dr. Stabile’s research is focused on how estrogen interacts with the immune system to play a role in the development of lung cancer and in metastases. Her studies show that estrogen activity on non-tumor cells within the lung tumor microenvironment plays an important role in tumor progression by p...

05/17/2026

Great attendance for the Rush to Crush Cancer - PNC Mile to Crush Cancer Walk. Tomorrow riders will be riding courses ranging from 8 to 60 miles. All to raise funds for research being conducted here in Pittsburgh at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.

05/13/2026

A lung cancer diagnosis doesn't just affect the patient. It affects the entire family. The trips to treatment. The nights away from home. The financial strain that compounds an already difficult journey. The feeling of facing something enormous without enough support around you. Libby's Lungs is here for all of it.

Through our partnership with Family House, we provide no-cost lodging to lung cancer patients with financial need and their families during treatment. We cover parking at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center on World Lung Cancer Day and once annually during lung cancer awareness month in November. And we support access to the lung cancer support group facilitated by Cancer Bridges.

These aren't extras. They're essentials. 20% of every dollar donated to Libby's Lungs goes directly to these services — because research and compassion go hand in hand.

https://www.libbyslungs.org/support

The focus of our Pittsburgh patient support services is to alleviate the obstacles patients encounter when seeking treatment and enhance their quality of life during the process. Support services include covering parking fees, offering complimentary accommodations through Pittsburgh based Family Hou

05/06/2026

If you live in Pennsylvania, lung cancer hits close to home.
👉️ PA's lung cancer incidence rate (56.9 per 100,000) is higher than the national average
👉️ Nearly 40% of radon test results in PA are at or above the EPA's recommended action level
👉️ Only about 1 in 5 lung cancer cases in Pennsylvania are caught at an early stage, when treatment is most effective

The good news: early detection through low-dose CT screening can reduce lung cancer deaths by up to 20%. Knowing your risk is the first step. Libby's Lungs funds the research working to improve outcomes for everyone facing this disease — because every breath deserves a future. libbyslungs.org

04/29/2026

Pittsburgh has always shown up for its own.

For the researchers asking harder questions. For the patients and caregivers who need support that goes beyond the clinic.

Libby's Lungs is Pittsburgh's nonprofit home for lung cancer research and patient support — and we believe this community has the heart and the compassion to lead and make a difference.

On August 14, 2026, we invite you to be part of that leadership at the Hope in Every Breath Fundraiser at Pittsburgh's Grand Hall at The Priory. An evening of food, community, and purpose — all in support of the lung cancer patients and families who need us.

General admission: $225 │ Tables of 6: $1,500 │ Sponsorships: $2,500–$15,000 Every ticket. Every table. Every sponsor. Hope in Every Breath.

givebutter.com/Libby26