Local Lung Cancer Advocate Travels to Washington, D.C. to Share Personal Story at Milestone Event

In celebration of a decade of powerful advocacy and progress, St. Charles Parish resident and lung cancer advocate, Ellen Siedel, will once again travel to Washington, D.C., for the American Lung Association’s 2025 LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day on April 9. 

This event marks 10 years of amplifying the voices of lung cancer survivors, caregivers, and advocates from across the U.S. who have shared their personal stories with lawmakers to drive lifesaving change.

This is Siedel’s sixth time on the Hill advocating for those impacted by lung cancer. Siedel, a pharmacy technician, is driven by the memory of her mother, Karen, who was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in late 2013. By the time she was diagnosed, the cancer had metastasized to her lymph nodes and adrenal gland. Siedel had been living in Illinois and moved home with her fiancé to care for her mother shortly after. She had a little over a year with her mother before she passed at the age of 58 in 2015.

“There are so many things that my mother isn't going to be here for—my wedding, watching her grand kids grow up, holding my hand as I give birth. Every day I wish I had more time,” Siedel said. “That is why I feel it is so necessary to be here for Advocacy days. I am her voice and that of thousands of others who can’t be here with us. I am her legacy, and I will fight every day so that, hopefully, another family doesn’t have to experience that loss.”

During Advocacy Day, Ellen Siedel will speak with and the Louisiana Congressional Delegation and their staff to share her personal experience with lung cancer and explain why protecting access to quality and affordable healthcare through Medicaid, and protecting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health are vital for people with or at risk for lung cancer.

This year’s event is particularly crucial as proposed federal budget cuts and policy changes threaten to undermine progress in lung cancer research, prevention and access to affordable care. LUNG FORCE Heroes will share their stories and advocate for protecting lifesaving research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), critical public health prevention and protections at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the importance of Medicaid in providing health coverage for people with and at risk for lung cancer.

LUNG FORCE launched in 2014, and the first LUNG FORCE Advocacy took place in 2016. Since its inception, LUNG FORCE has played a pivotal role in transforming the landscape of lung cancer research, treatment and awareness. Over the past 10 years, the American Lung Association has:

• Shared the inspiring stories of more than 1,000 individuals affected by lung cancer with lawmakers, putting a human face to the nation’s leading cause of cancer death.
• Increased annual lung cancer research funding through the National Institutes of Health by 142%, surpassing $500 million annually.
• Contributed to a remarkable 44% increase in the five-year lung cancer survival rate, providing hope to countless patients and families.
• Paved the way for 67 new lung cancer therapies approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, expanding treatment options and improving outcomes.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day and support Ellen Siedel, the Lung Association invites Louisiana residents to join the movement by visiting LUNGFORCE.org/AdvocacyDay and:

• Calling your Senators and Representatives to echo the voices of LUNG FORCE Heroes.
• Sending an email to Congress to advocate for continued support of lung cancer research and healthcare access.
• Engaging with lawmakers on social media to raise awareness and inspire action.

For more details about the 2025 LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day or the American Lung Association’s ongoing efforts to end lung cancer, visit LUNGFORCE.org.