Chris Draft, Former NFL Linebacker and Nationally Recognized Health Advocate

Named Keynote Speaker for Lungs4Life Post-Race Event on Nov. 3

Editor’s Note: Chris Draft is available for phone interviews the week of Oct. 29. Please contact Jo Halmes atjhalmes@charter.net or 864-640-9020 to arrange.

 Chris Draft, a 12-year veteran linebacker in the NFL, will join the Greenville community in its fight against lung cancer by participating in the Caine Halter Lungs4Life 5K event that will be held Nov. 3 at the Caine Halter YMCA.

Draft, who has played with various NFL teams including the Charlotte Panthers and Atlanta Falcons, is a nationally recognized community leader and health advocate. He currently is leading a national campaign to change the face of lung cancer through Team Draft. Team Draft is an initiative of the Chris Draft Family Foundation (www.chrisdraft.org) that is dedicated to raising lung cancer awareness and increasing badly needed research funding by shattering the misconception that lung cancer is a “smoker’s disease.” Draft established the initiative with his wife, Keasha, who passed away from lung cancer late last year at the age of 38. 

Keasha was raised in Williamston, S.C., and endured a year-long struggle with Stage IV Lung Cancer before succumbing to the disease. An energetic, vibrant woman, Keasha had never smoked; her only symptom of the disease was a slight shortness of breath before she was diagnosed.

“The fact is that anybody can get lung cancer,” Draft says. “Yet, despite the fact that between 20,000 and 30,000 people who have never smoked—including Keasha—are diagnosed with lung cancer in the United States each year, the smoking stigma negatively impacts lung cancer research funding. This pales in comparison to funding for other major cancers and diseases. Team Draft is out to change that. We’re excited to see the progress that is being made by Lungs4Life in the battle against this disease, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Lungs4Life features a 5K Run/Walk, a 1 Mile Fun Walk, and a free Children’s Fun Run that raises money for lung cancer research both locally and nationally – supporting Greenville Hospital System’s Institute for Translational Oncology (ITOR) and Uniting Against Lung Cancer. In the past four years, the event has raised more than $645,000 for lung cancer research.

The 5K Run/Walk will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the 1-Mile Fun Walk will begin at 9 a.m. The ¼ mile Children’s Fun Run will be held at 8:30 a.m. Advance registration fees for the 5K Run/Walk is $25 for adults, $20 for 12 and under. The 1 Mile Fun Walk is $15 for adults, $10 for 12 and under. The Children’s Fun Run is free for children 6 and under.

All attendees are invited to stay for the after-race festivities which will feature a presentation and autographs by Draft, along with live music from a Greenville-based band, after-race massages, a smoothie bar and more. Individuals, families and teams are encouraged register at www.lungs4life5k.com or through the Lungs4Life

Facebook page.

The race is held in memory of Caine Halter, an active member of the Greenville community who lost his battle with lung cancer in 2007 at the age of 45. He was a non-smoker.

Caine Halter Lungs4Life • P.O. Box 8307 • Greenville, SC 29604 • www.lungs4life5k.com