Free to Breathe

The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center is taking part in the inaugural Free to Breathe 5K run/walk event to help promote lung cancer awareness.

Sponsored in part by VCU’s Department of Radiology, registration and events will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday, March 12, at Short Pump Town Center, 11800 W. Broad St., Richmond.

According to organizers, the purpose of the event is to help decrease deaths due to lung cancer and help patients live longer and better through research, awareness and advocacy. These have brought about improvements in screening, diagnostics and treatments for other cancers that have led to longer and better lives.

Because screening tests may find a disease early on, when treatment may work better, part of the VCU Medical Center’s efforts in the fight against lung cancer include its Lung Cancer Screening Program, which tests patients when there are no symptoms, clinical signs, or history of lung cancer.

In addition, representatives from VCU Medical Center’s Smoking Cessation program program and Massey Cancer Center will be on hand to provide information on services they offer at VCU Medical Center.

Proceeds from theFree to Breathe event will benefit the National Lung Cancer Partnership. For more information, call 804-347-8398.

VCU Department of Radiology Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Medical Center