By Lori Palermo, COPD Advocate
When I lost my dad, Wayne A. Litzenberger, in
December 2003 to COPD/Emphysema, I set
out on a mission to not only educate individuals
living with COPD and their families and caregivers,
but also to spread COPD awareness to the public
through all media efforts.
I launched my own website Love Your Lungs, Breathe For Life (www.loveyourlungsbreatheforlife. com) in memory of my dad. I am now an advocate for lung disease awareness and smoke-free living.
Always seeking new ways to spread COPD Awareness, I designed a COPD Awareness Gold Ribbon Lapel Pin; the color for COPD Awareness (as most diseases are linked to a particular color). (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/ takeaction/761/710/249/)
As this subject is very near and dear to not only my heart but to many lung disease individuals across the United States, I have presently created a petition targeting the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee to consider the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Gold Ribbon as a new U.S. Postage Stamp design subject.
The release of a COPD Awareness Stamp will help reach vulnerable COPD websites that explain more about this disease and the need to bring awareness to the public and media.
COPD is an umbrella term used to describe lung diseases associated with airflow obstruction and is the second leading cause of disability and the fourth leading cause of death in the US. It is projected to cost the US $49.9 billion in 2010. There are 12 million Americans living with COPD in the US, and another 12 million who have it, but don’t know they do.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD but there are also genetic, environmental, and occupational risk factors. Long-term exposure to lung irritants, such as air pollution, chemical fumes, or dust, also may contribute to COPD.
The statistics surely prove that more must be done to bring COPD awareness to the public. Through media exposure, community efforts’, the internet, educational publications, and simply by word of mouth, the lives of individuals impacted by this silent disease can be improved.
Educating lung disease individuals and their families is the key to living and coping with COPD on a daily basis and bringing us one step closer to reversing this breath-taking disease.
Won’t you help the COPD Community by signing this petition, in an attempt to bring nationwide awareness to this silent killer, COPD.
The release of a COPD Awareness Stamp will help reach vulnerable COPD websites that explain more about this disease and the need to bring awareness to the public and media.
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