Suffolk Life , May 9, 2007

'Kites For A Cure' To Fly In The Face Of Lung Cancer

By Susan J. Greenberg

In honor of Joan Scarangello, a Southampton resident and non-smoker who lost her battle with lung cancer in 2001, more than 400 families are expected to take part in "Kites for a Cure" - the first-ever family kite-flying benefit - on Memorial Day weekend, said Roxanne Donovan, Scarangello's sister-in-law and coordinator for the event.

According to Donovan, the event is hosted by Joan's Legacy: The Joan Scarangello Foundation to Conquer Lung Cancer, which funds "innovative" lung cancer research around the country. "Lung cancer is the nation's leading cancer killer, and we are committed to raising both awareness and funds to help find a cure for this deadly disease," said Donovan. "This is a family event that will fill the beach and the sky with hope and beauty."

Lung cancer will kill more Americans this year than colon, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers combined, and more women than breast, uterine and ovarian cancers combined, Donovan explained. "Yet it receives less federal research funding per death than any of the other major cancers," she noted.

According to Donovan, Joan's Legacy, a non-profit organization headquartered in New York, has grown under the direction of Scarangello's family and friends to become one of the leading sources of funding for lung cancer research in the country. Recognized for spurring new and innovative research projects, the foundation has quickly become "the singular" venture capital source for important research into the disease, said Donovan. The foundation has awarded $2.4 million in research grants to identify the causes of and possible cures for lung cancer.

"My father passed away from lung cancer three and a half years ago," said Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley, a supporter of the efforts of Joan's Legacy. "Kites for a Cure will bring families together this Memorial Day weekend, giving them a way to celebrate the holiday, honor those who are bravely fighting this disease and also memorialize loved ones lost - whether to lung cancer or any other cause." Epley said that although his father quit smoking when he was 50 years old, and had subsequently taken care of himself, he still succumbed to the disease when he was 66. "If we can stop one person from going through what my father went through, this will be a success," he said.

"The stigma of smoking - the idea that lung cancer victims brought the disease upon themselves - created a veil of silence and shame around the lung cancer diagnosis that directly impacted funding for a cure," said Susan Mantel, the foundation's executive director. "We believe that nobody deserves lung cancer - neither the 25,000 who [never smoked and are] diagnosed each year, nor the 135,000 current or former smokers [who are diagnosed annually]. Kites for a Cure will help us change the perception of the disease, and positively impact research funding."

The event will be held on Saturday, May 26, from 4 to 6 p.m., on Coopers Beach in Southampton. With each $25 donation, said Donovan, guests will receive a "high-quality" kite they can decorate on-site - drawing pictures or writing names, wishes and messages to send into the sky. The money raised will support Joan's Legacy's national lung cancer research grant program.

For more information about Kites for a Cure, to RSVP to the event, or to learn more about Joan's Legacy and lung cancer, call 212-627-5500 or visit the foundation's website at www.joanslegacy.org.