Park Slope Woman Remembers Her Mom With Free to Breathe 5K

Park Slope resident Maddie Friedman was devastated when doctors diagnosed her mother with stage IV lung cancer. They hoped that chemotherapy and radiation would prolong their time with her, but Maddie’s mother died suddenly, surprising even her oncologist.

Maddie hopes that one day extraordinary people like her mom will not lose their lives in what has become too often a losing battle for people diagnosed with lung cancer. That’s why she is participating in the inaugural Brooklyn Free to Breathe 5K Run/Walk on team Ginny’s Hummingbirds, in memory of her mother.

On Sunday, October 26, she will join hundreds of participants as they run across the Brooklyn Bridge and raise awareness for lung cancer, a disease that takes more lives in New York than any other cancer. The inspirational event will feature a 5k run/walk and ½-mile walk for all fitness levels. All proceeds go to Free to Breathe, a research and advocacy organization dedicated to doubling lung cancer survival by 2022.

There is still time to make a difference in the fight against lung cancer. Online registration for the Brooklyn Free to Breathe 5K closes Wednesday, Oct. 22. Due to park restrictions, there will be no onsite registration on event day. For more information or to register, visit www.freetobreathe.org.