Latest news with #FightforAirClimb
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
KC Cancer survivor heading to D.C. to fight for research funding
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City cancer survivor is heading to Washington D.C. next week to meet with lawmakers. She's fighting for research funding and access to life-saving medications. Patt Papenfuhs considers herself lucky to have had early detection, responding to a flyer in the mail about body scans. 'It came back clean except for the little spot in my lung, and that's how it started,' Papenfuhs said. Vernon County tornado leaves residents stunned: 'Keep us in your prayers' After it calcified, she began chemo in October of 2023 and had surgery in 2024 to remove the lower lobe of her right lung. She'll be on a medication for the next three years that started out just as a general cancer drug. 'The more they studied it and the more research they realized that this drug targeted the gene mutation I have,' she said. After that, the future is unclear. She'll be one of the more than one million Missouri residents living with lung disease. 'If lung cancer comes back, it tends to migrate to the brain, so I'm hoping there's more research going forward. So that if and when it comes back and this drug doesn't work, I have a next step.' She'll head to Washington D.C. next week to speak to Missouri's Senators and her congressman Sam Graves or their staff, along with more than 40 other lung force heroes as part of the American Lung Association's Advocacy Day on April 9. 100 Hy-Vee grocery stores offer free A1C testing in April Tuesday, mass layoffs began in the Department of Health and Human Services, which contains both the CDC and National of Institute of Health, which participate in cancer research. 'I think it's a concern for anyone who has lung cancer, any kind of cancer or any type of illness that's chronic because research is what we are all counting on,' Papenfuhs said. Convincing Missouri's Republican delegation to try to curb CDC NIH or Medicaid cuts could be an uphill climb. But that's something the lung cancer survivor is used to, now quite literally. Exactly one month ago and a year removed from her surgery, the 72-year-old completed her first Fight for Air Climb, climbing 42 floors to the top of Kansas City's tallest building. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Fight for Air Climb raises over $200,000
DES MOINES, Iowa — The American Lung Association of Iowa hosted its 22nd annual Fight for Air Climb in Downtown Des Moines on Sunday. The event raised funds to support lung disease research and officials at the event said that as of 9 a.m. over $200,000 was collected. Over 700 people participated by climbing 79 floors for a total of 1,656 steps. The climb took place in three downtown buildings: EMC Insurance Companies, the Hub Tower, and the Ruan Building. 80 firefighters and 10 police officers also participated in the climb, many walking in full gear. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
People climb flights of stairs in Pittsburgh skyscraper to support American Lung Association
People went up dozens of flights and hundreds of stairs for this year's 'Fight for Air Climb.' The event was held at One Oxford Centre along Grant Street in Downtown Pittsburgh. Climbers went up 42 flights to benefit the American Lung Association. Firefighters, professional climbers and simply people who wanted to test their own strength all participated. Steven Gillis with the American Lung Association said the event creates perspective for people on what it could feel like living with breathing issues. 'They have that issue, whether it's asthma, COPD, that their lungs are burning. They're having issues catching their breath. So, climbing stairs, individuals get that same feeling,' said Gillis. 2025 was the 19th year the event was held. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
