Two months after lung cancer claimed her mom, Becky Jacobson stood in the rain and welcomed more than 700 participants to the Chelmsford Free to Breathe 5k Run/Walk. Despite the bad weather, in Becky’s first time as chair she single-handedly doubled the number of participants and the amount of money raised at the event.
Becky’s mom, Julie, had been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in January of 2011 and passed away in July 2012. During that time, Becky sought ways to join the fight against lung cancer and took on the countless responsibilities of chairing the annual Chelmsford Free to Breathe Run/Walk, supported by the National Lung Cancer Partnership.
“Lung cancer is ugly and unfair, but Becky didn’t give up when her mom passed away,” says friend Kate O’Donnell. “She is not only a leader, but an inspiration to all of us volunteers and participants in the event. We might want to give up, but we can’t. We won’t give up until we beat lung cancer, and no one has to watch a loved one suffer through this unforgiving disease.”
Becky has led the annual fundraiser ever since that soggy September day in 2012. In those four years, Chelmsford Free to Breathe has contributed more than $250,000 to the national Free to Breathe organization (formerly the National Lung Cancer Partnership). Free to Breathe funds lung cancer research, clinical trials of new drugs and education and awareness efforts. Its goal is to double lung cancer survival by 2022.
