First Ever Halloween Golf Tournament in Malibu – Players Tee It Up In Costume to Fight Nation’s Number One Cancer Killer – Lung Cancer Summary: The Lung Cancer Foundation of America’s unique “Halloween Golf Tournament,” presented in partnership with, and hosted by, The Malibu Ladies Golf Club, is the first Halloween event of its kind in the USA to support lung cancer research. In response to the crisis in lung cancer research funding, and the lack of public knowledge about this disease, the number one cancer killer for men and women in the country, a fun charity Halloween Golf Tournament will take place on Saturday, October 27th, 2012 at the Malibu Golf Club, 901 Encinal Canyon Road, Malibu, CA, beginning at 11:00 AM with proceeds benefiting the Lung Cancer Foundation of America. Golfers from across Southern California will enjoy a day of golfing, games, prizes, lunch, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, along with a silent auction. Prizes will be awarded for the best Halloween costume, the longest drive, closest to the hole, and more. For tickets and more details visit http://www.lcfamerica.org/lcfa_halloween_golf.php. Los Angeles, CA, October 15, 2012 – The Lung Cancer Foundation of America’s unique “Halloween Golf Tournament,” presented in partnership with, and hosted by, The Malibu Ladies Golf Club, is the first Halloween event of its kind in the USA to support lung cancer research. In response to the crisis in lung cancer research funding, and the lack of public knowledge about this disease, the number one cancer killer for men and women in the country, a fun charity Halloween Golf Tournament will take place on Saturday, October 27th, 2012 at the Malibu Golf Club, 901 Encinal Canyon Road, Malibu, CA, beginning at 11:00 AM with proceeds benefiting the Lung Cancer Foundation of America. Golfers from across Southern California will tee it up in costume and enjoy a day of golfing, games, prizes, lunch, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, along with a silent auction. Prizes will be awarded for the best Halloween costume, the longest drive, closest to the hole, and more. Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer for women and men in the USA – it kills more people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney and melanoma cancers – COMBINED. “Even in the face of startling statistics about lung cancer, people often resist discussing this disease, and it remains the most under-researched and under-funded cancer, in spite of its tremendous impact on public health. For this reason, we are particularly delighted about our partnership with the Malibu Ladies Golf Club for this tournament” says Kim Norris, the President of the Lung Cancer Foundation of America. “When we learned that lung cancer kills almost twice as many women as breast cancer, we wanted to do something tangible to increase awareness,” says Shannon Sutherland, Member of the Malibu Ladies Golf Club. One of the major reasons why people don’t like to discuss lung cancer is because of the stigma surrounding this disease. Lung cancer is the forgotten cancer, and the only cancer where the victims are blamed for their disease. This is true despite the fact that an estimated 60% of new lung cancer diagnoses will be in non-smokers – a combination of former smokers, some who quit ten or twenty years ago, and people who have never smoked. These former smokers did the right thing … they quit. Little do they know that they are still at risk for lung cancer and just like lung cancer victims who have never smoked, they will be shocked to discover how few treatment options are available to them, and how public empathy is scant for them in their fight against this disease. In 1971, the National Cancer Act declared War on Cancer. According to the National Institutes of Health, in 1975, for the five most common cancers diagnosed in adults, the 5-year survival rates were: breast, 75%; prostate, 69%; lung, 13%; colorectal, 51%; and bladder, 74%. As of 2006, the 5-year relative survival rates for the five most common cancers were: breast, 90%; prostate, 100%; lung, 16%; colorectal, 67%; and bladder, 81%. The 5-year survival rate for lung cancer has practically not budged in 35 years. There is currently no approved screening for early detection of lung cancer. Although lung cancer is the nation’s leading cause of cancer deaths, it remains the most under-funded, under-researched and under-supported cancer. ABOUT LUNG CANCER FOUNDATION OF AMERICA (LCFA) LCFA was established by two lung cancer survivors and a lung cancer widow. Although their life experiences vary greatly the three of them arrived at the same realization…the poor survival rate for lung cancer is a direct result of the lack of funding for lung cancer research. Working with many of the top lung cancer researchers and clinicians in this country, LCFA has seen how lung cancer researchers are trying diligently to unlock the secrets unique to lung cancer. They have also witnessed the inordinate amount of time researchers spend in an effort to secure money to pay for the research, an effort that distracts them from their primary research function. The abysmal state of funding for lung cancer research also discourages new researchers who, instead, gravitate to where the money is, leaving a potential gaping hole in future lung cancer research programs. LCFA’s mission is to save lives by dramatically increasing the five-year survival rates for all stages of lung cancer, the nation’s leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women. LCFA will accomplish this by providing the necessary and critical funding for creative and leading edge lung cancer research programs for early detection, treatment options and hopefully, a cure. http://lcfamerica.org.