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Community Corner

CVS Extends Commitment to Helping People Live Tobacco-Free Lives with New In-store Fundraising Campaign to Support the American Lung Association

California residents Can Visit their Local CVS/pharmacy Store to Support American Lung Association’s New Public Health Initiative LUNG FORCE to Raise Awareness of #1 Cancer Killer of Women – Lung Cancer

CVS/pharmacy announced an in-store fundraising campaign to help fight the #1 cancer killer of women – lung cancer. Funds raised through the campaign will benefitLUNG FORCE, a new initiative to make lung cancer in women a public health priority, drive policy change and increase research funding.  From now through June 29, CVS/pharmacy customers in California will have the opportunity to contribute to LUNG FORCE at the register in stores nationwide or online atwww.cvs.com/lung with all proceeds going to support the movement. CVS Caremark is the national presenting sponsor of LUNG FORCE.    

According to the American Lung Association’s inaugural Women’s Lung Health Barometer, a survey of more than 1,000 American adult women that measures women’s knowledge and perceptions about lung cancer, women’s awareness of lung cancer’s impact is terribly low. Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer of women, yet only one percent of women cite it as a cancer that is top-of-mind. Hundreds of thousands of women are affected by lung cancer every year, and two-thirds of lung cancer cases are in those who have never smoked or have successfully quit smoking.  The Barometer also revealed 78 percent of women are not aware that lung cancer has killed more women than breast cancer since 1987.

Through LUNG FORCE, CVS Caremark and the American Lung Association seek to unite women against lung cancer and for lung health, and encourage them to raise their voices for change. Through nationwide efforts, LUNG FORCE will make lung cancer a cause that people care about and act on, educate and empower patients and health care providers, and raise critical funds for lung cancer research. 

“LUNG FORCE unites women to stand together against lung cancer because we need to make lung cancer in women a public health priority and change our thinking about this disease,”Harold Wimmer, National President and CEO, American Lung Association. “Residents in California have the opportunity to participate in this movement through the LUNG FORCE in-store campaign at CVS/pharmacy, and will be able to help increase awareness and education to fight against lung cancer and for lung health.”

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“When CVS Caremark announced in February that we would stop the sale of tobacco products at our 7,600 CVS/pharmacy locations, we also made a commitment to align ourselves with community partners on programs that are helping people lead tobacco-free lives,” said Helena Foulkes, President, CVS/pharmacy. “The American Lung Association shares in our purpose of helping people on their path to better health, and through our partnership and in-store fundraising campaign supporting LUNG FORCE, California customers will be able to make a significant impact in educating the public about the prevalence of lung cancer in women.”

CVS Caremark colleagues will also engage in the LUNG FORCE initiative by participating in local LUNG FORCE events across the country. Earlier this year, CVS Caremark announced its decision to remove tobacco from its more than 7,600 retail stores by October 1, 2014, making them the first national retail pharmacy chain in the country to do so.

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To learn more about the in-store fundraising campaign or to make a donation, please visit www.cvs.com/lung.

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