Letter from the Executive Director

Hey Everyone,
Just sending out the latest update on Rexanna’s Foundation. As I sit here on a plane heading back to Houston from Washington, D.C. I can’t help but be reflective. I am beyond grateful for the place in which our Foundation is today – and that is a tribute to everyone who dedicates there time, energy and support. I also have that sharp ache in the very core of my body as I have shared the story of Rexanna’s fight with lung cancer many times over this week. The clarity of our mission and our fight has never been clearer and more evident than this week. I sit here also in amazement – to think that 1 voice can have an impact and multiplied many times over can really make a difference. Finally I am proud of being able to say that Rexanna’s Foundation was a part of something so special and certainly the beginning of a larger effort to eradicate this ugly vicious lethal disease of lung cancer.

Two days – yes just two short days and yet I have clarity of what joined efforts with a common purpose can accomplish in such a short time. This week Stephanie & I stood shoulder to shoulder with lung cancer survivors, caregivers and others in the fight as we converged on Washington, DC to have our voice heard. What was interesting was I was focused on our voice being heard but I left with the stories and the voice of survivors and those stories so similar to mine that I was haunted and humbled by the sheer force of this disease.

Brandi – 21 yr old Division 1 athlete and college Junior at East Carolina University, a NEVER SMOKER, was diagnosed with lung cancer in November ’08. She is precious – you can’t help but question how? Michael’s wife just days prior to delivering their newborn son finds out she has stage IV lung cancer, only to die 9 months later. There is Mike, a tall young athletic guy with 2 young children, right now fighting for his life looking for the latest in treatment options…he is from California. He may come to Texas – we told him to consider M.D. Anderson – and he is – he said anything because he wants to win the fight. Before we left he told me he would trade cooking dinner for Rex and I for a place to stay…I said “come on!” Melanie, from Maryland, she is in stage 1, she feels lucky to have found it early. Thing is she went to be checked because in the past 3 years she has lost her 2 brothers and father to lung cancer. Jerry had an edge to him, nice but you could feel the fear and anger combined. He told his story of being a law student, studying crazy long hours and stressed yet resisting the common temptation of lighting up; yet his classmate so addicted even stepped out of class to light up. Jerry ,an attorney in D.C., is in the midst of treatments right now with Stage IV lung cancer, his classmate, disease free, is the President of the United States.

Story after story – what resonated was this was real life, real time and happening all around us! Seventy people from all over the U.S. there in D.C. with a common purpose and passion. Sharing their story and trying to convince the legislators to help us in this fight.
In those two days, we laughed together, we cried together and we bonded in solidarity in the knowledge that we all know the realities of this vicious disease. It attacks stealth-like until it is too late, and it is relentless in taking our sons, daughters, mothers, wives, brothers, best friends, sisters, dads, cousins, etc in the prime of their lives in a short amount of time. So fast that you are stunned in the reality and many are numb to what to do.

You guys we are the face for this disease which has so few survivors! We are their stories! WE have to share, we have to tell someone. In 2009 over 185,000 people of all walks of life will die from lung cancer. Over 10,000 will be from Texas! Many will not even get treatment because the news will be they have so little time. Many will be young women who are never smokers, the fastest growing demographic acquiring the disease to date. Over 60% will be folks who have not lit up a cigarette ever in their lives or have not lit up in decades but will not be faced with a disease and life expectancy which averages 15 months. We must speak up! We must wade into the fight! Now more than ever you can make a difference.

I was thinking as I was listening to the stories about our Foundation, our roles as board members and advisors. I was thinking of our economy and the negatives that can be associated with a foundation in these stressful times. But then I paused and realized – it is the voice we need! It is the numbers of people willing to be heard. We can make a difference individually and collectively with our voice. Our voice needs to tell the story. Our individual stories. How lung cancer has impacted us personally. Our stories of the stark realities of this disease. This needs to be a part of who we are and what we do. I was blessed to be in D.C. so was Stephanie. We each had hundreds of really good excuses NOT to be there. But we were! And wow – I am so glad we were.

Each of you have your story. Each of you said YES when I came to you one at a time to talk about being a part of Rexanna’s Foundation. Each of you are amazing! Wonderful! And I am thankful to know you and share this journey with you! My request is not about fundraising – so breathe a sigh of relief if you were worried. This is about awareness – creating a knowledge level out there about lung cancer & Rexanna’s Foundation which needs to be heard!
Here are some thoughts to consider…

· When was the last time you handed out a Rexanna’s Foundation bracelet? Need more? Let us know.
· When was the last time you shared your personal story – why you are a part of Rexanna’s Foundation?
· When was the last time you handed out some of our brochures?
· When was the last time you visited our website?

I know we are all busy and consumed with our day to day lives – but I can assure you that in our day to day lives we have the opportunity to share the mission...touch a life…share our story. Just in the everyday opportunities of life and work.
I am thankful and humbled to know each of you and appreciate all you have done for the foundation. Because of each of you there IS a foundation and trust me…because of each of you – WE DO HAVE A VOICE…and it is being HEARD!!!

Many thanks!!! It’s All Good!
Lisa
Lisa Spain, Executive Director
Rexanna's Foundation for Fighting Lung Cancer