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Jill as Cal Crew's Coxswain
Many people think they know what Lung Cancer is – who gets it – and who doesn’t. Throw everything you think out the window.
Time. For. A. Major. Update.
Actually, way beyond time.
This is 22 year-old Jill Costello. This is the NEW face of Lung Cancer.
That’s right, Lung Cancer doesn’t care how old you are, whether you’ve ever smoked or not. Just like Jill, ANYONE can get Lung Cancer. ANYONE!
Jill’s diagnosis isn’t a fluke and her story, unfortunately, isn’t one we had to dig deep to find. In fact, 60% of new Lung Cancer patients have never smoked (Just like Jill) or are former smokers who quit decades ago. Lung Cancer is no longer just a smoker’s disease. It is now “equal opp.”
So, how can it be that the nation’s the #1 cancer killer of both men and women is still the LEAST funded of the four major cancers? How can it be that Lung Cancer’s 5-year survival rate has remained unchanged for more than 40 years—at only 15.5%?
We can no longer ignore Lung Cancer or use the myth of smoking to blame. We have an epidemic on our hands that needs to take center stage on the global cancer agenda. This is exactly what Jill Costello wants to do, by graciously sharing her Lung Cancer journey and lending her name to this campaign for change.
"Jack" and Jill
Jill was diagnosed with stage IV Lung Cancer at the age of 21. She has never smoked. Jill recently graduated from UC Berkeley, where she was coxswain on Cal’s Women’s (rowing) Crew, and despite 20+ rounds of chemo and 14 radiation treatments, she coxed the Cal Bears to a second place slot at the NCAA Women’s Division I Rowing Championships.
Not only does Jill never give up. She never stops smiling.
The Bonnie J Addario Lung Cancer Foundation “Just Like Jill” Lung Cancer Research Campaign will offer a rare glimpse into the lives of those with Lung Cancer—showing what the disease truly is—and what it isn’t . You will get to know Jill very well, and many others just like her. You will fall in love with all of them. Your heart will break many times. You will be forever inspired by their strength and courage. You will be shocked. You will be outraged. You will better understand. You will want change…just like Jill does.
Please donate for Lung Cancer research today!
We cannot thank artist Matisyahu, his manager Jason Rogoff and Arjun Pulijal of Sony Music Entertainment enough for granting us full permission of the beautiful song, “One Day,” in this video and for supporting the fight against lung cancer. “One Day” is Jill’s favorite song. Thanks a million!
Full disclosure: “WTF?” is an affiliate program of the Bonnie J Addario Lung Cancer Foundation. I also serve as the Foundation’s social media strategist.
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