On the final day of the ALK summit in Nashville this summer, I leaned into Chris and said, “I’m going to join the board of directors.”

The summit is organized by ALK Positive, Inc., the nonprofit and advocacy arm of the Facebook support group. They have a board of directors and committees that help run various aspects of the organization, such as ‘ALKtALK,’ which includes the support groups, including the program I lead, Young ALKies. There are also fundraising, finance, and the medical committee. The medical committee is headed by Dr. Ken Culver, whose primary job is to find new ways to advance medicine and research for ALK patients.

The summit this year, compared to last year, grew in size and professionalism. I was able to see where things are headed, and I decided I needed to be a part of it. So, I declared it to Chris right then. Once I got home, I began my campaign with the board members I’m friends with. I filled out the necessary paperwork and asked to be put up for a vote.

In September, I was voted in as the organization’s newest board member.

With this, I have also joined the fundraising committee and begun to create “Team ALK Positive.”

My goal for Team ALK Positive is to create a fundraising framework where ALK patients, along with their friends and family, can participate in fitness challenges. Many of us are stable and healthy enough to do this, and in fact, several of us have already taken on fitness challenges as fundraisers. I’m approaching this as a trial run, aiming to uncover any potential obstacles and challenges up front. I’m testing the process in hopes of working through the issues, refining the approach, and ultimately creating a model that can be easily replicated and passed on for others to use in the future. We are going to be doing the same run that my friends and family did with me in February 2023. I’m hoping to get several of the LA-area ALKies, along with their friends and family, involved too. We even have a corporate sponsor supplying our T-shirts: Bialack and Associates.

I’ve now been part of two board meetings. It feels incredibly inspiring to learn how things are run, where the donations go, and the advancements being made in cancer research.

Dr. Culver’s job, in simple terms, is to learn about everything going on in the lung cancer space. Then, when research or even researchers’ hypotheses sound promising, his job is to get ALK patients a seat at the table.

ALK accounts for 5% of all lung cancers, but we have the longest median life expectancy. We typically respond the best to our medications, but our representation is often lacking in studies. This is where donations, fundraising, and philanthropy come into play. ALK provides grants to biotech companies, researchers, and organizations that help bridge the gap between institutions and scientists. We say, “More Research = More Life,” which is an oversimplification of how truly important this is.

I am currently in the recruitment phase for our run, trying to get runners and walkers signed up. There is a 10K run, a 5K run or walk, a baby buggy (stroller push) for a 10K or a 5K, and a kids’ run. There’s an option for everyone.

If you are interested in joining the team or fundraising with us, please let me know. I have big goals for Team ALK Positive because More Research = More Life.

If you are interested in donating here is the link to the Stewart Family Page: