What:

St. Francis-Emory Healthcare is recognizing Lung Cancer Awareness Month by joining The White Ribbon Project, an effort to spread the word about lung cancer awareness, timely diagnosis and treatment. The symbol of this effort is a simple white ribbon, cut from one of the original founding ribbon forms. St. Francis-Emory Healthcare received its forms from former NFL player and White Ribbon Project Board of Director Chris Draft, who honors the memory of his wife through the project.https://www.thewhiteribbonproject.org/bios/chris-draft

St. Francis-Emory has proudly partnered with Jordan Vocational High School College and Career Academy and its students who are assisting in cutting and preparing the ribbons for this important community message.

When:

On Thursday afternoon, Nov. 4, 2021, the media is invited to Jordan Vocational High School College and Career Academy, 3200 Howard Ave., to see its students creating the White Ribbons for the St. Francis-Emory Healthcare White Ribbon Campaign efforts.

About the White Ribbon Project:

https://www.thewhiteribbonproject.org/

Advancing lung cancer awareness is the commitment of The White Ribbon Project. It is an unbranded international grassroots movement representing ALL. Decades of public health campaigns have left the public uneducated about their risk for developing lung cancer. In addition, failures in public health education to accurately represent lung cancer have led to delayed diagnosis, treatment and negative opinions surrounding lung cancer.

Heidi Nafman Onda was diagnosed with lung cancer in October of 2018. The diagnosis was shocking for Heidi, her husband Pierre, and their children.

In October of 2020, out of frustration over the lack of action on the part of cancer centers across the country for Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Heidi asked Pierre, “Can you make me a large white ribbon?”

It's about building a community –

Soon after Heidi hung her white ribbon, they began receiving asks from friends and others impacted by lung cancer. Because a simple hand-crafted ribbon, made with love, became a symbol to start a conversation. In addition to those who have asked for a white ribbon, many of those are sharing. Advocates are using their white ribbon to start conversations within their community.