October 2010


Fall Events and Opportunities

Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago's e-newsletter is published monthly and contains news of our happenings, program updates and links to lung health resources. 

This month's issue includes:

To receive our monthly e-newsletter, send an email to info@lungchicago.org.

Johnny Knox could visit your school!

Hey teens! Tell us why you're living a tobacco-free life, and you could win a visit from wide receiver Johnny Knox at your school, and a $100 U.S. Savings Bond!

Whether you've tried smoking and decided to quit, or you've made the choice never to use tobacco products, we want to hear about it! Tell us about your decision: What or who influenced you to be tobacco-free? How will you stay true to your choice? Why should other teens know the truth about tobacco?

To enter online and view complete contest rules, visit www.QuitWinChicago.com

Congratulations, Lung Power Team!

Congratulations to the 25 Lung Power Team runners who participated in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday! A special congratulations to our top fundraiser, Dan Lavin, who has raised more than $8,600 to support our mission.

As runners braved the 26.2 miles and the heat, our Lung Power Crew was on-site at Charity Block Party cheering them on and high-fiving them as they passed.

Lung Power Team members came from around Illinois, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Texas and Wisconsin to raise awareness and funds for lung disease research and lung health programs. In all, they have raised more than $25,000!

To learn more about Lung Power Team and support their fundraising efforts, visit the official website.

CHILL

CHILL Join us on November 11 for the fourth annual CHILL event at the Merchandise Mart!

CHILL is an international wine and culinary event that benefits RHAMC. Guests sample an array of wines paired with the best food Chicago chefs have to offer. RHAMC also hosts a silent auction and wine raffle. 



Main event (6 - 8:30 p.m.): $85
VIP reception (5 - 6 p.m.): $175

To purchase tickets, contact Lysette Talavera at (312) 628-0226.

World Spirometry Day: October 14

Thursday, October 14 is the first ever World Spirometry Day. To celebrate, RHAMC is partnering with University of Illinois at Chicago to offer free lung function screenings to adults who may be at risk for lung disease.

Spirometry is a quick, non-invasive breathing test that measures the amount (volume) and speed (flow) of air that can be inhaled and exhaled by the lungs.  Spirometry is an important screening tool in assessing conditions including asthma and COPD.  

The tests will be offered at three downtown Chicago locations:  Thompson Center, Riverside Plaza, University of Illinois Medical Center Hospital Lobby.

To learn more about COPD, visit our website.

Get Involved: Clean up dirty school buses

At times, dirty soot inside a school bus can reach levels ten times higher than the outside air, increasing children’s and staff’s exposure to harmful pollutants that can cause asthma attacks, heart attacks, lung cancer, strokes and even premature deaths.  

Illinois EPA currently has $1 million in funding to help school districts clean up their dirty diesel buses with advanced pollution and anti-idling controls.  Funding is currently available for school districts that are located in the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will and portions of Kendall and Grundy that own their own bus fleets. There are no match requirements with this funding.  
 
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to clean up your buses!
 
For more details and to apply for this funding source, visit the Illinois Green Fleets website and click on “Illinois Clean Diesel Grant Program." Or contact Ashley Collins, Environmental Health Manager, RHAMC directly at acollins@lungchicago.org or 312-628-0202.