You don't have to smoke to get lung cancer; group on a mission for a cure (VIDEO)



TACOMA -- When Sopia Hall's mother, Germaine, couldn't lift her two-year-old grandchild and kept holding her chest, Sopia begged her to go to the doctor fearing she was having a heart attack.

"I called my dad off the golf course and also got myself ready for a long night. Two hours later, my parents and my husband and myself were chatting in the ER and she was telling us how dumb the visit was and that she would be fine when the very friendly doctor came in to say it wasn't a heart attack," said Sophia.

While there was no heart problem, doctors did find "a shadow on her lung."

Germaine, a woman who co-founded the Korum Automotive Group, a wonderful mother who also helped raise her first three grandchildren was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma.

Thanks to treatment, she is still alive and pushing to help others just like her. That's why Germaine and her family are encouraging everyone to participate in Saturday's 7th Annual Free to Breathe 5k Run/Walk at 9am in Dickman Hill Park in Tacoma.

The goal is to double lung cancer survival by 2022.

Germaine founded the Korum for Kids Foundation, has donated millions to the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, and other charities. Now, it's time for the community to give back and support her efforts.

"Cancer has not taken my mom and I pray it doesn’t.  Fortunately she was able to try a somewhat new medication and it has increased her time with us.  She has endured blood draws galore, CAT scans, two traumatic surgeries and numerous doctors.  She shouldn’t still be here and yet she is. I want to find a cure!  Period!!" said Sophia. "Or, at the very least, a treatment that at least doubles the survival rate.  It is 2014….we put people on the moon.  It is time to kill cancer!"

So come out and join Germaine's friends and family on Team Eco Boost as well as hundreds of others to run or walk!

If you want to sign up or support a team, you can find more information by clicking here.