West Hartford Resident Breaks Records, Climbs Skyscraper for Lung Cancer Research

Growing up in Greenwich, CT, Johanna Greenfield and her eight siblings considered themselves a close knit
family. When one of their sisters, Judy, was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in 2009 at age 57, the family shared the heartbreak together.

Judy, who was living in the Florida Keys, had been suffering from back pain for months when she was eventually diagnosed with lun cancer. She embarked on a long list of treatment options and endured a more than year-long fight which took a toll on her independence, her quality of life and her family. Despite the significant change in he health and lifestyle, Judy remained positive with the help and support of her husband, two children and siblings.

As Judy’s youngest sister, Johanna visited from her Connecticut home in West Hartford as often as possible. She said, “Witnessing her suffering made me want to do something, to get active. No one should have to go through what she did. I ultimately decided to get involved with the American Lung Association.”

When Judy died in 2010, Johanna’s urge to honor her sister’s legacy only increased. Johanna describes Judy as an avid reader, a “Brainiac” and a “warm, open person who would do anything for anyone.”

When Johanna participated in her first Fight for Air Climb in 2014, she knew she found the right outlet to honor her sister’s memory. This year, on Saturday April 22, 2017, Johanna will take part in her second Fight for Air Climb – and not only will she race up 34 flights of stairs, to the top of Hartford 21 – but she will do so as the event’s top individual fundraiser. Already having raised nearly $8,000, Johanna has shattered all previous records for individual fundraising during the 10 years that the American Lung Association has hosted this event in Connecticut. For that she credits her supportive family, her generous
donors and her friend, James Pierce, who encouraged her to push harder and expand her fundraising options.

“Judy’s positive energy always inspired me, and now that I’ve heard the stories of so many others that take part in this event, that inspiration has only grown,” Johanna said. “I’m really just a conduit for other people’s generosity. In addition to my supportive family and many individual donors to whom I owe a debt of gratitude, I have to thank the Stein family, who donated incredibly generously to this, my dentist, Dr. Mitchell Katz who is as amazing a person as he is a dentist, the folks at Gallagher Buick in New Britain, and my friend, Ginny, who designed a fabulous poster for me to circulate. I feel like together, we’re really making a difference. I am convinced that our collective efforts bring us closer to a cure that will save another family from losing a loved one to lung cancer.”

To support Johanna and her Fight for Air Climb, visit http://action.lung.org/site/TR/Climb/ALANE_Northeast?px=5352444&pg=personal&fr_id=14883