Military Veteran Takes the Stage to Give Back to Support Lung Health

TAMPA, FL — Tampa resident and University of Tampa alum Jamal Wilburg will lip-sync and dance on May 27 to support the American Lung Association in Florida.

Through the Lip Sync for Lungs event, Wilburg will join other local celebrities to execute fun performances, all to win the top spot of Lip Sync Live Battle Champion. The event raises money to end lung disease and supports the organization’s COVID-19 Action Initiative.

Wilburg describes himself as a "struggling extrovert."

“These past couple of years, I have wanted to be safe while balancing doing the right thing," he said. "I’ve really missed community gatherings. The Lip Sync for Lungs event is such a unique event and will give all of us the chance to come together while supporting lung health at the same time. You may not think about it much, but we all have been impacted by lung disease in some way – COVID-19 touched all of us.”

Wilburg said that while he was stationed in Afghanistan as an Army officer in 2009, he lost his great aunt to lung cancer.

“I wasn’t with my Aunt Enid when she passed, and no one should have to go through that. I’ve chosen to perform in her memory so that others will benefit from the research the Lung Association is funding,” Wilburg said.

Whether he is at work as a software executive with Inovalon or out serving in the community, Wilburg lives by the philosophy that “You will receive more in life by giving back no matter what form that giving comes in."

"I am taking that philosophy to heart as I prepare to perform on stage in front of hundreds of people – something I’ve never done before in public," he said. "I sing all the time all by myself, but for this event, it will just be me out there. My performance will be a soundtrack of my life and will have a little twist on how you might look at something. That’s all I can say, but I can’t wait to have this moment."

Lip Sync for Lungs Live Battle V will be held Friday, May 27 at ZooTampa at Lowry Park. The celebrity performer with the most votes will win the top spot of Lip Sync Live Battle Champion.

Learn more about the event, get tickets and vote for your favorite celebrity at LipSyncForLungsTampa.org.

The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research.

The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future.

For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Gold-Level GuideStar member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.