Children Craft and Donate Quilt to Lung Cancer Caring Ambassadors Program.

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- The 5th grade class of Mrs. Ann Smith at Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary School in Vancouver, Washington wanted to do something special to mark their upcoming graduation from elementary school. Most children plan parties to celebrate such occasions, but Mrs. Smith's class wanted to do something more meaningful. The class made a quilt they've named "Constellation of Love." The quilt will be donated on June 16, 2005 at 6:30 PM (PDT) to the Lung Cancer Caring Ambassadors Program (LCCAP) in a special ceremony hosted by Mrs. Smith's class. The quilt will be used nationwide by LCCAP to raise lung cancer awareness and to inspire others to focus their efforts, as the children from Mrs. Smith's class have done, to help those affected by lung cancer.

LCCAP was chosen as the quilt recipient after being nominated by a member of the class, Hope St. John, whose father died of lung cancer when she was just 3 years old. "The quilt project began as part of our study of life during the American Revolution. It turned out to be more 'revolutionary' than ever conceived. Students learned how to work together to create a masterpiece, but more importantly, they've discovered how to give of themselves to make the world a better place. It is a priceless lesson that will make a difference in their lives and the lives of many others. This project was indeed a 'revolution,' a transformation of great power and emotion," said the children's teacher Mrs. Ann Smith.

LCCAP is a nonprofit organization devoted to providing information and encouragement for people living with lung cancer, raising lung cancer awareness, and encouraging people affected by lung cancer to help others. Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of American men and women of all ethnicities. Each year, lung cancer kills more Americans than breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined. Increased lung cancer awareness is crucial to turning the tide on lung cancer, which currently claims 164,000 lives each year in the U.S. Each day, 450 people in the U.S. die of lung cancer.

Caring Ambassadors Program Board member Lorren Sandt will accept the quilt on behalf of LCCAP. "We are truly honored to be given such a special gift and to see children working to help others in need," said Ms. Sandt. The quilt will be displayed at the upcoming Lung Cancer Awareness 2005 Run and Walk sponsored by LCCAP and St. Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. After the Atlanta event, LCCAP will use the quilt at other local and national lung cancer events, and will make the quilt available to other organizations working to aid those affected by lung cancer.

For additional information about the "Constellation of Love" quilt presentation, contact Lorren Sandt at 1-877-737-4372 or [e-mail]. For additional information about the Lung Cancer Caring Ambassadors Program, contact Tom Simon at 770-451-4749 or [e-mail].