We Did It, Y’all: Lung Association’s Lip Sync For Lungs Hits $1M Fundraising Milestone

On the evening of Thursday, February 28, at Charleston Music Hall, four locals delivered show-stopping lip sync performances in front of a roaring crowd of nearly 750 people. The American Lung Association in South Carolina’s one-of-a-kind fundraiser, Lip Sync For Lungs Live Battle IX: Rhinestones and Rockstars, presented by Audi Charleston, raised well over $100,000, bringing the total funds raised to more than $1M since the inaugural event nine years ago.

Susan Perkins, assistant manager of Gold’s Gym on James Island, was named the 2025 Lip Sync For Lungs Battle IX Champion. She raised more than $50,000—an all-time-high—through community support and donations. She took the stage with fitness instructor colleagues, Rachael Bruno, Emily Oswald and Margaret Bradbury, as the group “Susan Perkins and the Golden Girls.” They began their performance with a spoof of The Golden Girls theme song before shedding their grey wigs and moo-moos to reveal workout gear and cowboy boots. Their dance routine incorporated aerobics and other feats of strength as they lip synced to Gretchen Wilson’s “Redneck Woman” and Shania Twain’s “Man I Feel Like a Woman.”

“Being able to participate in this year’s Lip Sync For Lungs Battle was epic, and I am honored to have won the title of Battle IX Champion,” said Perkins. “It was the most fun I’ll have all year! The performers were amazing, the crowd was crazy loud and the donations were flowing in for a cause that most of us have a personal connection with.”

Mick Matricciano, a front-end developer with Beck Digital, performed a 90s country mashup, with a surprise appearance by his 9-year-old daughter and the Boot Scootin’ Boogie Girls. Dance and fitness instructor Shelley Scott’s 4-year-old daughter kicked off her performance as Lainey Wilson with a rendition of “Heart Like a Truck.” Finally, Narcisa Maura, founder and CEO of Glow Girl Unlimited LLC, brought the night to a close with a mix of Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter songs.

“Reaching the $1 million milestone through Lip Sync For Lungs is a testament to the passion and generosity of our community,” said Lori DeNicola, event chair, Lip Sync For Lungs Live Battle IX. “Since 2017, we've come together to raise critical funds for the American Lung Association in South Carolina, and we’re not stopping now!”

Perkins added, “I can’t wait to see what you have in store for year 10! The Gold’s Gym crowd will be backing routing you on!”

The event was co-hosted by Bryan Mahanes and Ryan Becknell. AG Goldsmith from Audi Charleston, Jonatan Guerrero Ramirez from We Are Family and the Lung Association in Florida’s Cindy Springer, who is a lung cancer survivor and last year’s Mission Moment speaker, served as judges. Laura Reed, a local jewelry designer and veteran who traveled to Washington, D.C. last year to advocate for public health funding, shared her experiences navigating stage IV lung cancer during this year’s Mission Moment.

Since the event’s debut in 2017, Lip Sync For Lungs has featured performances by more than 40 local celebrity fundraisers. In addition to bringing enthusiasm and star power to the stage, each performer has a fundraising goal of $15,000. 90 cents of every dollar raised supports lifesaving research, health equity initiatives and local efforts.

The Lung Association is proud to serve our Lowcountry community and the nearly 775,000 South Carolinians living with lung disease and lung cancer. Our mission has never been more critical. We are researching new treatments and cures, tackling the youth vaping epidemic, protecting the air we all breathe and helping people live healthier lives. Your support fuels our mission and deepens our local impact. For more information or to make a donation, please visit LipSyncForLungs.org

Thank you to all of our sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor Audi Charleston, Petaloso, Michele & Mike Seekings, Synovus, Local Love CHS, The Edge Tattoo Studio, Daniel Island Real Estate, Lowcountry Oncology Associates, Gold’s Gym, Clarke Design Group, Uptown Hospitality Group, The Darling Oyster Bar, Lowcountry Lung and Critical Care, The Ordinary, FIG and photography partner Valerie & Ed Photography.