Your ultimate guide to lung cancer fundraising
Lung cancer is a devastating disease. It continues to be one of the most expensive cancers to treat, with expected costs of treatment for the first three years starting at approximately $35,000. Whether you want to support a loved one with lung cancer or raise money for research, organizing a lung cancer fundraiser is a meaningful way to show support and help cover costs for people facing lung cancer and spread awareness about the disease. Discover top lung cancer fundraising tips, including how to set your fundraiser up for success, and see what kind of impact you can make.
Five important facts about lung cancer
- Lung cancer is a surprisingly common disease—there is a 1 in 19 chance that a person will develop it in their lifetime.
- It is responsible for more deaths in the US than colon, prostate, and breast cancer combined.
- The 5-year survival rate for patients is only 28%, according to data collected by the Cancer Statistics Center.
- Approximately 1 in 5 people diagnosed have never smoked.
- According to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, women get cancer far more often than men. Studies have shown that women are nearly twice as likely to receive a diagnosis, whether they have smoked or not.
Why lung cancer fundraising matters and how it can help
Lung cancer affects millions of people and families each year. It remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, yet many patients still face late diagnosis, limited treatment options, and high care costs. Fundraising plays a critical role in changing this reality. It supports research, improves early detection, and helps people manage the financial and emotional impact of the disease.
Donations make a real difference in several ways:
- Advancing research and treatment. Funding helps scientists develop new drugs, test innovative therapies, and improve survival rates.
- Expanding early detection. Support for screening programs helps diagnose lung cancer earlier, when treatment is more effective.
- Improving patient care and quality of life. Donations help provide symptom management, emotional support, and services that guide patients through treatment.
- Supporting families facing lung cancer. Fundraising helps cover practical needs like caregiver support, travel for treatment, and access to patient networks.
In addition to driving progress, fundraising also helps cover the many costs that come with a lung cancer diagnosis. Treatment can last months or years, and expenses often go beyond medical bills. These may include:
- Treatment and medical care, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy
- Prescription medications, including ongoing or newer therapies
- Travel costs for reaching specialists or cancer centers
- Loss of income for patients and caregivers
- Everyday living expenses like housing, food, and childcare
- Home care, medical equipment, and daily support services
- Mental health support, including counseling or support groups
By easing these financial pressures, fundraising allows patients and families to focus on treatment, recovery, and time together.
How to help lung cancer patients using crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is a powerful tool to raise funds for causes that matter, used by millions of people all over the world. If you’re considering fundraising for cancer, the following three ideas will give you the inspiration you need to get started.
Raise money for lung cancer research
A fundraiser is a great way to raise a substantial amount of money for research—often into the tens of thousands of dollars. And involving your community in your fundraiser, like through a fun charity event, means that you’ll spread more awareness for the research organization as well as encourage more donations both from people you know and strangers alike.
Fundraising with a lung cancer charity walk
A charity race will benefit the recipient of your fundraiser, as well as everyone who participates. Decide on the type of race: whether that’s a walk, a hike, or a run, and plan a route that makes the most sense for your location. Consider planning to shoot a video of your event that you can then share afterwards on your fundraiser’s Facebook page.
Lung cancer donation drive
Help raise money for a family in need by dedicating your fundraiser to someone you know who is battling this disease. Share details of the person’s unique struggle in your fundraiser story, to make a strong emotional connection with your audience and help people understand how they can support. Also include a breakdown of specific medical expenses, as knowing exactly where funds are needed will give donors a clearer picture of how funds will help.
Corporate sponsorship events
You can approach companies and ask them to host a corporate sponsorship event for lung cancer fundraising. Businesses can sponsor charity runs, workplace challenges, or fundraising events and invite staff, partners, and customers to donate. This approach raises larger sums because companies often match donations and reach wider networks.
Four steps to organizing a fundraiser
Follow the steps below, and you’re well on your way to creating a successful fundraiser and meeting your donation goals.
1. Find your inspiration
First, find a person or organization who inspires you, and designate them as the beneficiary of your cancer fundraiser. Maybe you have a co-worker who is bravely battling the disease, a cousin who has just been diagnosed, or a favorite center that helped a loved one in their time of need. Choosing a person or organization to rally around will inspire excitement in your supporters, and help them understand exactly where their donations will go.
2. Gather a team
Fundraising is fun with friends. Increase your network of supporters, and decrease your workload by inviting team members and assigning tasks. Decide on the type of fundraiser together, and then delegate tasks based on the interests and specialties of your team members. For example, a person may love promoting your fundraiser on social media, while another may prefer to ask for donations in person and share the fundraiser offline. Regularly check in to be sure all team members are on the same page. Find out more tips about how to build a fundraising team.
3. Share knowledge
Because so many families are affected by the disease, make certain that part of your fundraising effort educates people about how to reduce risks. Consider including tips on how to help someone who is sick, as this is often a source of worry for friends and family. Organize coverage from your local media to further raise awareness, or simply share a link that provides more information about preventive measures.
4. Collect donations
Determine how you will collect donations before you launch your online fundraiser, and decide what forms of payment you will receive. Hosting a fundraising event is another great way to inspire more donations, and help your local community get involved in your cause.
Fundraisers that work
Every day, people turn to GoFundMe to start their own medical fundraiser for the people and causes that matter most. See how others are raising money in the hope of a cure, below.
Help Doug fight lung cancer
Doug, a father with three young daughters, was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer—with no prior history of smoking. His wife, Kim, started a fundraiser to help pay for Doug’s treatment, including enrollment in a new drug trial. Through her fundraiser, she was able to collect over $17,000 to help pay for the best treatment available. Doug responded positively to the drug trial.
Fundraising for lung cancer research
After Daniel’s father passed away from lung cancer, he was determined to do his part to further lung cancer research into this devastating disease. He started a fundraiser on behalf of Memorial Sloan Kettering, recognized as one of the best centers in the world. Daniel raised over $16,000 to donate toward research—and personally matched donations dollar-for-dollar.
Start lung cancer fundraising today
No matter the impact the disease has made on your life, know that there is hope. Together, we can raise funds to support the people we love, access new and potentially life-saving treatments for the disease, and to support lung cancer research that could save the lives of millions. Sign up today to get involved and start your own fundraiser. Through your efforts, you could change or even save someone’s life.