A virtual fundraiser, hosted by the Early Lung Cancer Screening Program Team at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, aims to benefit underinsured patients in need of lung cancer screening and treatment.

“Fresh Air: A Virtual Event, Raising Awareness and Funds for Early Lung Cancer Screening in Maine” runs through Saturday, Feb. 26. Each week will feature the CMMC team hosting outdoor activities with special winter-themed contests.

Participants will be invited to show their support by sharing photos of themselves joining in outdoor activities such as snowshoeing, ice skating, ice fishing, sliding, skiing, snowboarding, fat tire biking and snowman/snow angel creations — all while getting “Fresh Air” and raising awareness for early lung cancer screening, according to a news release from Central Maine Healthcare.

In Maine, the rate of new lung cancer cases is 72 per 100,000 population, significantly higher than the national rate of 58 per 100,000 of population, according to data from the American Lung Association.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women, mostly attributed to smoking. Lung cancer symptoms often don’t appear until the disease has reached advanced stages. Fortunately, new screenings can now catch the condition in its earliest and most treatable stages — saving many more lives. Lung cancer can usually be cured if it’s detected early.

This event is sponsored in partnership with Free ME from Lung Cancer, a nonprofit organization that supports lung cancer research, education and advocacy.

Online and donations are encouraged each time a group shares a photo. People can post photos on social media using the hashtag #freshairforME or email them to freshair@cmhc.org to show support for early lung cancer screening at CMMC. All proceeds will help underinsured patients in central Maine access early detection and treatment of lung cancer.

For more information, visit cmhc.org/freshair, or email freshair@cmhc.org.

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