Journalist André Picard receives the 2012 Canadian Lung Cancer Journalism Award from Mary-Pat Shaw, acting president of Canadian Lung Association (CLA).
(Ottawa) – The Canadian Lung Association is pleased to announce that Globe and Mail public health reporter André Picard is the winner of the first Canadian Lung Cancer Journalism Award for his article entitled “Lung cancer is a women's disease too.”
Co-sponsored by the Canadian Lung Association and The Global Lung Cancer Coalition, the Canadian Lung Cancer Journalism Award is designed to promote positive and responsible reporting on the topic of lung cancer.
“In Canada, lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death for women. Yet it doesn’t get the attention, support or research funding that the other more traditionally perceived ‘women’s cancers’ receive,” says Mary-Pat Shaw, acting president and CEO of the Canadian Lung Association.
Mr. Picard’s thought-provoking article raised important questions about vast discrepancy between the heavy burden of lung cancer and its low awareness, as well as the heavy stigma faced by patients and the paucity of research funding for this terrible disease.
“Unfortunately, lung cancer does not have the benefit of a juggernaut of fundraising machinery or supportive army of donors, despite the fact that more Canadian women will die of lung cancer than the combined total of breast, ovarian, cervical, uterine, vaginal and vulvar cancers,” says Ms. Shaw.
“We would like to thank Mr. Picard for shining a light on lung cancer. And we hope that organizations, including ours, will work together to bring more awareness, donor dollars and research funding to this devastating disease,” says Ms. Shaw.
Mr. Picard received the 2012 award at the Canadian Respiratory Conference in Quèbec City on Saturday April 13th.
About the Canadian Lung Association
Established in 1900, The Lung Association is one of Canada’s oldest and most respected health charities, and the leading national organization for science-based information, research, education, support programs and advocacy on lung heath issues.
About the Global Lung Cancer Coalition
Created in 2001, the Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC) is an international group of patient organizations dedicated to supporting the needs of lung cancer patients. The GLCC is also the first international patient alliance to promote global understanding of the burden of lung cancer and the rights of patients to effective early detection, better treatment and supportive care.
For further information, national media representatives may contact:
Janis Hass
Director of Marketing and Communications
The Canadian Lung Association
(613) 569-6411, ext. 252
jhass(at)lung.ca
