MKE Fight For Air Climb-Discussion with The American Lung Association

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Episode Transcript

Chris (00:00):
Welcome to pulse check, Wisconsin.

(00:41):
Good morning.
Good evening.
Good afternoon.
This is Dr.
Ford With Pulse Wisconsin again.
And as always, I want to thankyou for joining us We have an
excellent episode here for youtoday.
Uh, we have two representativesfrom the American Lung
Association here in the state ofWisconsin, and Amanda Judas who
are going to talk to us todayabout An event that's upcoming

(01:02):
in the city of Milwaukee, whichis called the fight for air
climb fight for air climb isbrought to us by the American
lung association.
And the goal in this walk is tobring awareness to lung disease
throughout our city, as well asour state and our country.
This year the walk is going tobe at four 11 East Wisconsin

(01:23):
center and participants will beclimbing 30 floors.
This is not the first year thatwe've had this event and I'll
let them explain a little bitmore in detail as to how large
this event is and how successfulit has been in the past, but
this event is co opted by ourown community.
Milwaukee fire department Uh, wehave some representatives from

(01:46):
the fire department who will beparticipating in the
firefighters challenge, whichUh, danielle amanda will explain
a little bit more as well But umjust as some background the
reason why I wanted to bringthem on was to highlight this
event Which is going on march1st.
So if you listen to this andyou're interested definitely
feel free to click Click on thatlink, um, that we will provide,

(02:06):
uh, and participate because yourfunds, for fundraising for this
event is going to go to a goodplace.
And we are going to togethertackle, the incidence of lung
disease.
Just as some background here inthe United States, we see a
large amount of adults as wellas pediatric patients that
suffer from lung disease.

(02:27):
As an ER doctor, I see commonlyeffects of asthma, COPD, uh, as
well, but we also are seeingsome incidences of lung cancer,
um, sarcoidosis, a lot of, um,lung diseases that are outside
of that obstructive, asthma andCOPD realm.

(02:47):
Most recent data shows that 26.
8 million Americans have asthma,and that accounts for about
almost 800, 000 emergencydepartment visits both due to
asthma as well as COPD.
So this is something that iscommon.
You likely know someone who hasasthma as well as COPD.
Here in the city of Milwaukee, alot of attention is placed on

(03:09):
the air quality We see a lot ofpediatric patients who suffer
from asthma and some of the workthat I do, uh, with the
Children's Health Alliancefocuses solely, uh, in part on
asthma, as well as, asthmareadiness.
Is your child going to be ableto use their asthma action plan
if they're having exacerbationas well as some preventative

(03:29):
efforts that, uh, The AmericanLung Association is also working
hand in hand with the Children'sHealth Alliance with as well.
So a lot of good work to bedone.
However, with that being said, Iwant to make sure that we get to
highlighting this amazing event.
So feel free to welcome DanielleRose and Amanda Judas.

(04:09):
Well, thank you so much forcoming out here today.
I did a brief intro at the verybeginning, just to talk about
the program and talk about howimportant it is for the city of
Milwaukee.
But if you could, could you justgive us a brief introduction of
yourself and share the role thatyou have in the fight for air
climb?

Danielle (04:25):
Yes, I am Danielle Rose.
I am the development manager forthe Fight for Air climb.
Just started beginning, well, inJuly, and I manage the logistics
and work with participants and,uh, just kind of organize and
plan the climb.

Amamda (04:41):
And I serve as the development coordinator for the
Lung Association in Wisconsin.
I've been with the LungAssociation for three years now.
So this brings, um, it to mythird climb.
Awesome.
Awesome.
For those that are not asfamiliar, can you give us a bit
of an overview of what the fightfor air climb is and how does it

(05:01):
work?
How do, how do, how do peopleinteract when they get there?

Danielle (05:05):
Yeah, the fight for air climb is our biggest
fundraising event for theAmerican Lung Association in
Wisconsin.
People, uh, pay a registrationfee and fundraise a minimum of
100, um, hopefully more, toparticipate in the climb where
we climb inside of a buildingdowntown, uh, Milwaukee.

(05:28):
All right.
And, and, you know, we seedifferent activities that, that
are done, you know, I know they,American Cancer Association.
They do some work as well.
What makes stair climbing ameaningful and symbolic way to
raise awareness for, for lunghealth,

Amamda (05:43):
yeah, well, the stair climb is unique.
First of all, um, it's a great,uh, event to have in, in March,
right?
There's not a lot of marathons,running events.
It is a professionally timedevent, so people can take it
seriously.
Um, we do have race bibs.
It is timed.
Um, but one of the things thatmakes the stair climbing event

(06:03):
unique and we talked to, uh,climbers about is, um, as you're
going up the steps, right?
You're, you're, you're havingthat exertion and may feel it's
a little hard to catch yourbreath.
Um, you might feel when you getto the top.
Oh, I have a little bit of aburn in the lungs or some folks.
I'm in the last just briefly, weusually have Jolly Ranchers up

(06:24):
there by the elevator for them.
And what we say is that that isjust a small piece of what our
folks who struggle with a formof lung disease may experience
every moment of every day.
So that makes it a greatconnection piece.
Yeah, and like you said, it kindof bringing it back to what the
people who experience lungdisease every day, what they are

(06:46):
going through, and just puttingyourself in those shoes really
goes a long way in terms ofadvocacy, in terms of, you know,
bringing more funding to thetable to see how we can treat
these events and put, you know,additional treatment in line and
research.
How has this event grown overthe years?
Danielle, before we came on, wetalked a little bit about how
many years this has been goingon.

(07:06):
How long has it been going onand how has it grown in terms of
participation and fundraising?

Danielle (07:12):
The Milwaukee Fair climb has been going on for 17
years now, and, um, we're proudto say that our climb is, has
been the top climb across thecountry, you know, over a lot of
the other big markets out therefor the past 12 years, we've
been on top with participantsand fundraising, and that just

(07:32):
really goes to.
Show the generosity of theMidwest, the greater Milwaukee
area, where everyone is sogenerous and giving and
supportive of the mission, youknow, to, to help with those,
the advocacy efforts to supportresearch, education, and all of
those great things that'll help,find some, you know, cures and

(07:52):
treatments for lung disease andadvocate for clean air and
tobacco cessation, all the greatthings that the American Lung
Association does.
And, and, you know, that bringsup a good point too.
I do work with, uh, walk with adoc MKE here where we just try
to get people out and about andjust to, you know, our saying is
to walk towards a healthierlifestyle.

(08:13):
Right.
And very early on, we saw a lotof success in terms of our
numbers, in terms of people thatare coming out participation.
And that just speaks to, youknow, a lot of people don't know
about Milwaukee.
It's a hidden, hidden gem.
But we're at the forefront of alot of these, you know, these
events and a lot of thisresearch and things of that
nature because folks heregenuinely care about each other.
We're all trying to help eachother out, create those

(08:36):
environments where we have saferenvironments, safer, cleaner
air, clean water, et cetera, etcetera.
And so events like this really,really show that in real time in
action.

Amamda (08:45):
Well, and Fidelity's, uh, charities, uh, 2023
Geography Study of Giving saidthat Milwaukee and the Milwaukee
metro area is the fourth mostgenerous metropolitan area in
the country.
Like then.
And we tell our, our folks that,like, as we said, it's a
testament to their generosityand, um, the work and the

(09:06):
advocacy, um, and the power thatthis community knows that they
can make a difference and effectchange.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
So let's talk a little bit aboutlung health and advocacy in
general.
What are some of the most commonlung diseases that the American
Lung Association is working tocombat?

Danielle (09:25):
Yeah.
Um, number one, probably lungcancer, because it's the number
one killer of both men and womenin the United States.
Um, COPD is the 6th leadingcause of death where we're doing
a lot of great work with asthma.
We've done and continue to dowork with COVID 19, long term
COVID, many other lung diseases,you know, 121, 000 people.

(09:48):
are living with lung diseasejust in Wisconsin.
And that's an increase, sinceour, our last report as well.
And more than 34 million areliving with lung disease in the
United States.
So it's a big deal.
And there's, you know, 400,excuse me, 4, 610 new cases of

(10:10):
lung cancer, you know, justthis.
This year,

Amamda (10:14):
and that's for just the state of Wisconsin.
That's the state of Wisconsinstatistic.
Yeah.
So 1 of the taglines of the lungassociation is when you can't
breathe, nothing else matters.
And so we try to live that in inour mission, and there's so many
folks that are affected by lungdisease in a variety of forms.
But beyond the, the lungdiseases, the lung association

(10:36):
works tirelessly to combattobacco cessation, to work on
tobacco cessation, as well as agreat deal of work curbing the
vaping epidemic, especially asit relates to teenagers.
And you guys bring up a goodpoint too, of how prevalent it
is.
And those numbers sound shockingjust on its head, but as you
said, over 900, 000 people justin the state of Wisconsin are

(10:56):
affected by this, right?
We're not even talking aboutnationally.
And even as an ER provider, youknow, I see a ton of folks who
suffer from any obstructive lungdisease like COPD and asthma,
both kind of categorizedtogether.
And because it's so prevalent,we see folks don't take it as
seriously, you know, Oh, youknow, I don't have an inhaler on
me anymore.
And I just said, but when theycome into the emergency

(11:17):
department to Amanda's point,nothing else matters when you
can't breathe.
And so, you know, it's one ofthose things that I've worked
with various organizations,including yours.
about to try to get out the wordthat this is something serious.
I have people that I grew upwith that unfortunately died of
asthma and died of COPD.
Right.
And so that's how serious these,these conditions are despite

(11:39):
their prevalence.
And despite how much we kind ofnormalize it because it is so
prevalent, this is somethingthat we need to continue to take
seriously and, you know, treatlongterm and continue to support
that research and education aswell.
Yeah,

Danielle (11:53):
absolutely.
Yes.
So speaking to that, how doesthis event help support that,
that research that we're talkingabout, the education and that
patient support?
Yeah.
90 cents of every dollar that'sraised goes back into our
program.
So it goes back into, you know,education for, you know, that
you see like on our websites andwebinars that we put on and into

(12:16):
research and into helpingsupport, you know, advocacy
efforts.
You know, on the Hill, you havea four star charity navigator
designation.
That's pretty high up there orso close to that, that five star
will hopefully get that nextyear.
We have a patient caregivernetwork on lung.
org so people can call and get,you know, the resources and

(12:37):
things that they need to moveforward.
Also in, well, across the nationand also in Wisconsin, we have
been working towards gettingemergency inhalers into schools
to help, you know, in thoseemergency situations for asthma,
whether or not a child may haveasthma or just, you know, found
out that day, they can havethose things on hand, have a

(13:01):
plan of action.
Um, and we're working towards,you know, giving all, you know,
schools and administrators, allthe tools and resources they
need to make sure that they havethose things on hand in those,
uh, situations to help preventthose deaths.

Amamda (13:15):
An example of a great advocacy win that the Lung
Association partnered with theWisconsin Asthma Coalition this
year to really help affect thatchange so that it is allowed
for, for schools to have them onhand without a prescription, not
only for students, but forcoaches, for spectators at a
sporting event.
And so now we're working withschools and organizations to how

(13:37):
do we train our coaches, how dowe train our school principals
or school nurses, anybody toprevent that emergency asthma
situation.
And so that was just like,that's an example of an advocacy
win and something that we'rereally proud to be a partner
with over this last year that wefeel like will really affect
change for the community ingeneral.

(13:57):
Yeah, and I can't speak more tothe importance of having that on
hand and having thosemedications on hand too, because
again, seconds and minutes countwhen you have a kid who is
having an asthma exacerbation,especially a kid who may need to
be on chronic therapies and forwhatever reason either access to
care or forgot their asthmainhaler that day.

(14:17):
Right.
That is someone who, instead ofwaiting for EMS to get there,
which can be delayed, you know,we're in the middle of a
snowstorm right now in the stateof Wisconsin.
So who know how long it can takeEMS to get there, right?
That kid could be breathing inthat timeframe by efforts
provided by the American LungAssociation, the Asthma
Coalition, the Children's HealthAlliance, right?
Like, all of these groups areworking in order to make our

(14:39):
environment safer and to makeour community safer for our kids
and for us as well.
So getting, getting to thatenvironmental aspect too, I know
you guys do a lot of advocacyfrom that standpoint as well,
air quality and environmentalhealth are major concerns.
So how does events like this, sothe fight for air at the
American lung association, howdoes that tie into broader

(15:02):
advocacy efforts for cleaner airfor public health policies in
general?
Well, the Lung Association's advocacy and
public policy work on airpollution and climate change,
um, fights for clean, um, airindoors and out and for a safe
climate that doesn't harm lunghealth.

(15:22):
So within that work, the HealthyAir Campaign focuses on federal
policies to address outdoor airpollution and climate change.
The clean outdoor air and safeclimate are of course, critical
for healthy lungs.
We, um, are, have a wonderfuladvocacy, uh, director here in
the state of Wisconsin.
Her name is Molly and she workswith our, with our state
legislatures and, and share someof those public policy views

(15:45):
that we have on clean air andsome of the work that she has
done.
There was just a latest one thatthey have been working on as
well, as it relates to electricvehicles within the legislature.
Um, one of the other things thatwe encourage folks to do is go
onto our website, lung.
org and you can receive our, um,our mission updates.

(16:08):
And like, so you can getadvocacy alerts, right?
When there's something that youcan let your legislatures know
about, you can, you can sign onto receive those action alerts
as well as then to take actionto let your legislatures know
how you feel about those, thosepolicies that affect clean air
and healthy lungs.
Absolutely.

(16:28):
And so with these efforts andwith all that you guys are doing
in the community and in thestate, you know, I'm sold,
right?
So how, how does, if I'm someonewho lives in the city of
Milwaukee or lives in Wisconsinand wants to travel here, who
can participate in this climbthat's coming up on March 1st
and how can people sign up?

Danielle (16:45):
Yeah, everyone, anyone over the age of six years old
can participate in the climb.
We have those young climbers andwe have climbers up to, I think
he's 95 years old, uh, John andhe is amazing.
He he's climbing twice.
He climbed last year twice andhe.

(17:08):
You know, he does, you know,light training, you know, at
home, he, when I signed him upfor the climb, he said, he's
like, I went up and down thestairs to my basement 50 times
today, you know?
So it's just taking those extra,you know, little steps to, you
know, get moving.
You know, sometimes we say ifyou can, you know, walk a mile,

(17:29):
you can probably, you know, dothe climb.
It's just a matter of gettingyour, your body moving and
stuff, but you know, just, youknow, take a chance.
You can take it at your ownpace.
It is professionally timed, butit doesn't have to be.
A race for you, it could be ifthat's your personal goal,
you're like, I want to get upthere.
You know, I want to beat theaverage of, you know, 10 and a

(17:51):
half minutes.
I want to get 9 or something,but, you know, if you.
Get up to the 7th floor where wehave our 1st water station.
You're like, that's good enoughfor me.
You know, we have people on, youknow, on staff and everybody is
there to make sure we can getyou back down to the elevator

(18:11):
and, you know, if you'restruggling, you know, get you
some help or, you know, you justtake a quick break and then
continue on to the, you know.
The next floor is all the way upto the 30th floor on the top

Amamda (18:24):
folks make it to the

Danielle (18:25):
top

Amamda (18:25):
there.
They take a little break.
They get that encouragement fromthe person next to them.
You got this.
You can do this.
And that motivates them to gothose next few flights of you
can register.
So know that 1st of all, I wantto say that.
Even though it's the state ofWisconsin climb, we have pole
climbers like last year fromlike 12 different states and

(18:46):
over a hundred and 126 cities inthe state of Wisconsin.
Um, so we're, we're a prettypopular climb.
We have folks coming from NorthCarolina, from California to
climb with us and to climb withtheir family because it means
something to them as a family.
Um.

(19:07):
To climb into to take on thischallenge together.
So folks are able to register atclimb Milwaukee dot.
There is a 35 dollarregistration fee when you
register just to note as we'rewe're at.
What are we at?
16 days until the climb as we'rerecording this.
We're at 16 days until the time.
Online registration does closeThursday at noon, but that

(19:30):
doesn't mean if you miss thatdeadline that you can't stop in
on that Saturday and register inperson.
There's an extra 15 dollars forregistration in person that day.
Um, but we also then do ask thateverybody raise that that 100
dollars in fundraising, becausein the end, this, this is what
our mission is.
Um, and, um.

(19:50):
We want to raise those dollarsto, to affect change in lung
health for our neighbors.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
So, you know, let's, let's saythere are people who are on the
fence, right?
They, they are intimidated bythe fact that they're going to
be climbing up to the 30thfloor.
What kind of physicalpreparation or training?
I mean, we all aspire to beJohn, right?

(20:11):
95, they're getting it.
But what kind of physicaltraining and preparation do you
recommend for those folks whoare first timers that are
looking to take on this climb?
I would say that, first of all, you do not have to
train.
You can tackle these stairs atyour own pace without having to
train.
The biggest thing, though, thatI would say is just, you know,

(20:32):
it's a little bit harder becausenow, finally, we have snow here,
but, um, get out and get moving.
If you don't have a gymmembership or anything like
that, can you get to the mall?
Can you walk indoors in themall?
Just, um, it doesn't have to besteps.
If you have steps and can go upand down your basement steps.
like 10 times.
You don't even have to race it.

(20:52):
You know, just get your lungcapacity used to that, but you
don't have to.
You can take it at your ownpace.
And we have folks that do nottrain that just come in for the
day to do this.
We had one lady, Jamie, she wasclimbing in memory.
Of her son, she climbed thosesteps with her cane.
She was doing it.
We have a 6 year old to racepast.

(21:13):
Some of us, right?
They're like, and you have youhave John who's who's who's 9495
and on a mission and, but we canall do it.
Don't be intimidated by that.
Take your time.
There's a 2 water stations, butI just say, if you can get out
and be active, that's greathelp.

(21:34):
Um, that will help boost yourconfidence.
Um, and then there's a couple oftips in terms of, of taking the
stairs.
The biggest one is do not starttoo fast.
Pace yourself.
Everybody gets to the startline.
There's cheering, there's theenergy and they just go, right?
Like, and then you get likethree floors up and you're like,

(21:55):
Oh, it's like a little bit ofburn in the legs and the lungs
and so don't start out too fast.
Um, one of our seasonedclimbers, he climbs with his
family and in memory of hiswife, he says, take it like a
walking pace, like start like awalking pace.
You can always.
Speed up.
The other thing is people have atendency in that excitement to

(22:16):
climb on their toes, you know,and climb on the balls of their
feet.
Put your whole foot on the stairis what we say.
And, and use the hand railing ifyou need to, like, don't, don't
be afraid, uh, of that as well.
So those are a couple of thosetips, but anybody can do it.
Don't, don't be afraid by those30 floors.
Absolutely.
Yeah.

(22:36):
And from what I, what I read onthe website, especially they're
different climb options forpeople with varying fitness
levels as well.
Correct.
Yes.
So we have our traditionalclimb, which is, uh, that one,
one climb up of 30 floors.
You can also, uh, purchase and aclimb twice pass.
So you will climb at yourregular scheduled climb time or

(22:56):
with your team, if you'reclimbing with the team.
And then when you come back downthe elevator, which is a very
important point, people ask,yes, you can take the elevator
down when you get up to 30, theelevator is there for you to
take, take you back down.
Um, But so you can then afteryou climb that 1st time, take a
break and climb again, get backin line and climb again.

(23:18):
Um, we also have our power hourclimb, which is for those
athletic enthusiasts or folkswho like to challenge themselves
that climb starts at 7 am andthose folks climb as many times
as they can or I say, or wantcan or want in an hour and they

(23:38):
do it on a loop.
So they'll, they'll start in thebasement, and they'll do that
first full set, and then they'lltake the elevator down to our
lobby, and it loops right nextto the stairwell.
They get back in the stairwell,and they'll go back up again.
I think last year, the personwho did the most was, uh, eight.
I think they went up eight timesin an hour.
I mean Amazing, super incrediblechallenge, but also we forgot to

(24:01):
mention this in the beginning.
There's another unique climbopportunity and that's the
anthem firefighter challenge.
So we have an incrediblerelationship with local
firefighters, including with theMilwaukee fire department, but
we're glad to have chief AaronLipsky serve on our local
leadership board.
And he's a wonderful.
Support an advocate for the lungassociation and lung health for

(24:23):
all, and especially for hisfirefighters.
So the Anthem FirefighterChallenge, um, the firefighters
climb in, well, they have theoption to climb in gear,
impartial gear or no gear, but alot of them climb in full gear,
full turnout gear, helmet,oxygen tank.
Some of them choose to climb onoxygen as well, which adds its
own trickiness in terms ofregulating your breathing.

(24:45):
And that claim does happen in aseparate stairwell so that any
of those, even though their gearis clear and clean any of those
a little bit of irritants thatmay linger, um, are not in the
main climb stairwell.
But that is, uh, we have rightnow.
I think we have like 150, 170firefighters joining us.

(25:06):
Um, so that all happens at aparticular time and you can
stand in the lobby and cheerthem on as they, as they head up
the stairs.
So that's pretty cool.
Yeah.
And I mean, for, for everyonelistening here, my dad is a
retired firefighter down inChicago.

Danielle (25:20):
Awesome.
And we used to, he used to takeus to the academy and put on
that gear and we would do kindof the mock step.
You know, my hats off to those,that are involved in that, that,
that is just amazing thatthey're able to do that.
And, you know, we all need to bedown there cheering them on when
doing it too.
So that's awesome.
We have a really great large team from the junior fire
Institute.
There's about 30 kids who climbthe stairwell and they got

(25:43):
there.
All their gear and the flag, andthey, they do it too.
So that's

Amamda (25:49):
a really awesome program with the fire department.
That is creating connectingstudents, creating great
leadership skills and helpingthem teach them about the fire
service in the city ofMilwaukee.
So, then to see them support andcheer on and have.
Like 30 kids climbing in gear.
It's so awesome.
That's awesome.

(26:09):
You guys spoke to it a littlebit at the, at the beginning
when we talked about some of theconnections that folks have with
the walk and with the walkers,etc.
Have you met any pastparticipants whose stories like
really stuck with you thatreally stuck out in all the
events that we've, that you'vedone thus far?
Yeah, do you want me to share a few of those that I know

(26:30):
of a few that you've talked to?

Danielle (26:31):
Yeah.

Amamda (26:32):
Um, so, uh, one of our, um, one of our firefighters who
climbs, uh, is, is a lung cancersurvivor and he had one lung
removed and he was diagnosedwith cancer about five years
ago.
They feel like that was, he usedto, uh, serve in the.
Um, Afghanistan in the military,so they think that that was

(26:55):
related a little bit to, um,burn pit exposure.
So Andrew climbs and he bringshis family.
Kate has climbed with us overthe years and Kate's story is
pretty incredible.
This year, she's volunteering.
She is a, um.
Double lung, transparentrecipient in her client team was
named after her donor in honorof her donor and her donors

(27:18):
family.
And when we talk about thisclimb, and we're, we're pumping
up our volunteers to serve,we're talking about that.
This is a milestone experiencefor so many participants, right?
They look forward to thisopportunity every year.
Sometimes it's a challenge forthem because they struggle with
asthma with one of our committeemembers.
Beth.
She comes back from, she movedto North Carolina and she comes

(27:40):
back every year to do this eventbecause when she started doing
this event, she was climbing,um, on oxygen.
Chief Lipski carried her oxygentank behind her, um, and, and
climbed up the stairs with her.
And so now Beth doesn't needthat oxygen.
And so it's a part of that hugechallenge for her.
To get to the top every is sothat means like a huge amount to

(28:03):
her.
We have folks who climb everyyear in honor and a memory of a
loved one who they've lost.
Um, and so we have some folksalso, I should say that climate
themselves very particularly asthey, as they remember a family
member who they've lost maybe tolung cancer or another lung
disease.
So it's a very personalexperience for a lot of folks
beyond that athletic challenge.

(28:25):
It's a way of remembering andhonoring those we, those we care
about.
Yeah.
Just with all the work that youguys do with the American Lung
Association and with this climb,how does it feel for you
personally to witness survivorsand caregivers and healthcare
workers, the fire advocates allcoming together for this cause?

Danielle (28:47):
Well, this will be my first time, so I'm really
excited to.
Experience it, see everybody inthe lobby, you know, getting
excited, hearing, you know, I'veheard so many, you know, stories
over the phone, but to reallylike meet them in person I think
is going to be amazingexperience.
I know, um, Amanda for her, um,I'll let her speak to her first

(29:12):
climb experience that it was,it's, it can be really moving
for people.

Amamda (29:17):
Yeah, so for me, my story in some ways is not unlike
a lot of climbers and, and theirexperience and I joined the Lung
Association shortly after I lostmy uncle and godfather to lung
cancer and before him my dadlost his other brother and his
sister to lung cancer in justLike a couple of years and I was
not prepared for it, but I gotto that year, we were climbing

(29:39):
at American family field and Igot to American family field
before everybody else does in abright sunny morning.
And I just stood there and allof a sudden, and actually
started crying in the garden.
I just started crying.
Like, I just was thinking abouthow all of these people are
coming together.
They're raising money to affectchange, right?
To make a difference to wherewould my family be?

(30:01):
Where would my uncle be?
If, if his diagnosis came now,right in the, in the funds that
we are doing to support researchand medication and different
treatments for, for things likelung cancer, if he was diagnosed
now with all of the, all of thechanges, all of the
improvements, all of thatadditional research, what would
our outcome be?
How can we.

(30:22):
It's pretty incredible to be apart of something that hopefully
affects and changes the lives ofthe next family that's diagnosed
with this and has to walk withtheir family through this.
So I was just like, I'm tryingto, to cheer everybody on and
lead.
And I'm, I'm wiping away thetears, just kind of thinking
about my own family.
Um, so it was, it's a prettypowerful experience to be a part

(30:43):
of.
Absolutely, and you bring up agood point there too, you know,
there are going to be so manypeople that are affected by lung
disease at some, in somerespect, right, either cancer or
some other chronic lungcondition.
And with that many people,there's going to be somebody
that you know, personally.
Who is going to be affected byefforts like this by research,

(31:03):
by improvement of environmentalsafety.
We're all going to benefit fromthat.
And so how many opportunities dowe have to affect change so
readily?
The events like this areinvaluable for that reason.
And efforts like, like you allare doing right now.
Uh, we all take our hats off toyou, uh, as well as to Milwaukee
fire.
A lot of the Wisconsin fireassociations as well, uh, just

(31:23):
for participating and gettingthis word out for the importance
and for the safety of ourcommunities.
What is one message that youlike to leave our listeners with
about lung health and gettinginvolved?

Danielle (31:39):
I would say, you know, just, I would say take a chance
on us because I think you'regonna have a great time at the
event and we're gonna, you know,we're, we're here for you to,
You know, provide resources andsupport and anything that you
need, you know, to get youthrough the time, you know,

(32:00):
we're happy to help get peopleregistered or direct them, you
know, to the right resource thatthey, you know, that they need.
Um, and you know, every littlebit helps, you know, if you, you
know, are on the fence orphysically can't do it, we have
a virtual climb where you can dokind of your own thing and you

(32:25):
know, still fundraise and stillget that medal if you meet that
100 minimum.
But you could do something onyour own, like some people who
couldn't make it to our climbare on vacation and doing a hike
there and gonna fundraise andhike for us separately.
If you're, you know, not intostairs, but into volunteering,
we have lots of volunteeropportunities to help out on

(32:47):
climb day, ahead of climb day.
There's a lot of opportunitiesfor you to get involved.
If this is your passion, um, or.
If you want to become yourpassion to support the Lung
Association, we can provide lotsof great opportunities, and it's
gonna be a fun, really greatevent.
We have a lot of great thingsplanned, so come join us.

(33:09):
Yeah.
And as far as, you know, howlisteners can stay involved with
the American Lung Associationyou spoke to a little bit,
Danielle, um, I mean any, anyother way that, uh, listeners
can get involved and to keep upwith you guys for, for future
events?

Amamda (33:22):
Absolutely.
So one of the things I would sayis to follow our, uh, social
media.
So follow the American LungAssociation in Wisconsin's
Facebook page, but also we'reunique and we have our own Fight
for Air Climb Milwaukee Facebookpage.
So follow those as well.
We have a lot of differentupdates on when registration is
happening, different pieces ofadvocacy and admission things

(33:45):
that are happening.
There are, go to Lung.
org and, and take a look.
There are so many incrediblesupport things.
Danielle mentioned the PatientCaregiver Network.
We have a Lung Health Helplinethat's open seven days a week
for folks who may beexperiencing a new diagnosis,
don't know how to navigate that.
For families who may have a, akiddo who's diagnosed with

(34:07):
asthma and has a, there is aguide for families.
And schools to how to have anasthma care plan in your school.
So there's tons of resourcesthere.
So check that out, follow oursocial for some of our local
stuff that is happening.
And just as we said, when youcan't breathe, nothing else
matters.
Right.
And know that every, everylittle bit that you're able to

(34:29):
support, whether that's adonation, whether that's
volunteering a few hours onclimb day, I'm in charge of
volunteers.
That's also my shameless
book.
We would love to have you join us.
Come experience what, what anamazing opportunity this is, and
if you're interested in some ofthose events opportunities, you
can email us at eventswi atLUNC.

(34:49):
org.
And our CLIMB registration isCLIMBMilwaukee.
org.
Awesome.
Awesome.
We'll definitely look into that.
And Danielle and Amanda, I thankyou so much for all that you do
for our communities.
I thank you for putting on thisevent and we will get this out
to our listeners and for all thelisteners out there.
Feel free to join.
Feel free to look into thoseresources.
Thank you guys so much for

Danielle (35:09):
having us.
Chris.
Awesome.
I I cannot emphasize howimportant it is to address the
issue of lung disease.
Again, we see commonly in theemergency department folks who
are suffering from lung diseaseexacerbations and worldwide in
2017 around 3.
2 million people died from COPDalone.

(35:30):
Um, we talk about it all thetime in the emergency
department, as well as when I goout and do some advocacy work,
how important it is to addressthe issue of asthma, address the
issue of COPD and tackle it likeit should be, give it the
respect that it deserves as Aswe've seen, A lot of kids,
unfortunately, end up dying fromasthma, end up dying from lung

(35:53):
disease.
Uh, and a lot of it has to dowith some of the, the exposure.
So about 1 billion people areexposed to outdoor air pollution
a year.
Um, you know, 1 billion peopleare exposed to tobacco smoke as
well.
And so these are issues that weare trying to address in the
community and efforts like this.
those put on through the fightfor air climb, uh, and other

(36:15):
efforts through the Americanlung association work to reduce
the burden of living with a lungdisease through, you know, that
education as well as supportprograms.
So definitely for all mylisteners out there, feel free
to reach out to the Americanlung association, feel free to
register for this walk.
If you can't make it or if youwant to get involved with any

(36:37):
other, lung.
association activities ordonate, or if you just want some
more information about your owncondition, I will post the link
for the Wisconsin branch of theAmerican lung association as
well as for this, uh, this walkas well.
So definitely go out.
Uh, you know, if you can'tparticipate in this walk, make

(36:57):
sure that you're getting out andyou're walking, make sure that
you're getting that fresh air.
Uh, and if you're on chronicmedications for your lung
disease, Definitely.
I cannot express this anyfurther.
Definitely make sure that you'retaking that medication, uh,
longterm steroids.
If you have that, definitelymake sure you're taking that
medication because again, we'reseeing over and over again,
folks who, uh, either don't haveaccess to that medication or,

(37:21):
you know, just don't take thatmedication.
And, you know, we end up in asituation where that ounce of
prevention could go a long wayin preventing a hospitalization
or a bad outcome in theemergency department.
So, again, with that being said,I appreciate you all reaching
out.
Um, you know, I lovehighlighting events like this
throughout the city of Milwaukeeand throughout the state.

(37:41):
So, if you have any events, um,feel free to reach out, I want
you all to, um, continue toreach out with your questions,
with your show ideas as well.
So, We're going to keep thissecond season going.
Uh, we got some good episodes onthe horizon as well.
Feel free to check out ourInstagram page.
We have another page that's upon blue sky now, uh, where we
will be posting some, short,videos, uh, some informationals

(38:05):
as well, just to get folksthinking about some of these
chronic conditions that we'reseeing, uh, and acute
presentations to the emergencydepartment too.
We've been getting some goodfeedback from that as well.
So, uh, looking forward tocontinuing to bring you, uh,
this long and short form, media,So that being said I want to
thank you all for coming outLooking forward to seeing you

(38:26):
the next time and