Here's an important cause that all Mainers should care about: lung health. Every five minutes, a woman in the U.S. is told she has lung cancer, and the number of women dying from lung cancer each year has nearly doubled over the past 30 years. That's why Joe is spreading the word about the American Lung Association's Lung Force, which unites women to stand together against lung cancer and for lung health. Lung Force works to advance lung health—a life free of lung disease—for everyone who suffers from asthma, COPD and other lung diseases, or has someone in their life who does.

Lung Force is hosting two great events to raise awareness for the work that they do. The first is the Lung Force Walk on Thursday, May 11th in Boston. The second event, and probably the easier one for Portlanders to participate in, is the Trek Across Maine, a 3-day, 180 mile cycling event from the mountains of Sunday River to the sea in Belfast. This will be held June 16th, 17th, and 18th, and is sure to be as inspiring as it is fun. Find more about these events here and here.

Joe hopes both events are a great success, and offers his thanks to the American Lung Association and to Lung Force for spreading awareness of this important issue that affects so many Mainers.