Survivor at Every Stadium: Atlanta Falcons #RiseUp

Atlanta, GA. Spartanburg, SC lung cancer survivor-advocate Melody Carnes and her family represented Team Draft at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, November 24th. The Carnes family watched the Atlanta Falcons take on the Tampa Bay Bucs after tailgating with some die-hard Falcons fans.

“The Carnes family is so thankful for the invitation to the Atlanta Falcons game in November. As a five year survivor of lung cancer, “making memories” has become my motto. You get one life and you gotta live it to the fullest. This was a wonderful opportunity to do just that with my husband Russ and my two sons Caden and Jack. Living for them is my only option. Beating cancer is my only option. My hope is that through more research and earlier detection that more people diagnosed with lung cancer get the opportunity to fight, to live longer, to live better, and to continue to make memories. Attending this game was very empowering. It reminded me of my fight and that more needs to be done. I feel like I have a new advocate and friend in Chris Draft who welcomed my family as if we were old friends. Like the Falcons, we will “Rise Up” to continue the fight.” ~ Melody Carnes

In 2012, we launched our inaugural Team Draft Survivor Series initiative on CNN during a nationally-televised prime time special focusing on lung cancer and our National Campaign to Change the Face of Lung Cancer. Our Survivor at Every Stadium, leverages our connections with the NFL, its teams and players with our relationships with many of the top cancer centers in the country. As a part of our International Campaign, the games allow us to celebrate our survivors, raise awareness, and give hope to those battling the disease, as well as shine a light on the important work being done at cancer research and treatment centers around the country.

Team Draft’s goals are to create a unique experience for participating survivors and to raise awareness on a local, national, and international level by using each game and each survivor’s story to weave a broader narrative about the state of cancer and the hope that now exists for those battling the disease.

Our 6th annual Lung Cancer Survivors Super Bowl Challenge kicked off on November 1, 2019. The Challenge will conclude on December 30th at 3amEST. This unique fund raising challenge gives lung cancer survivors the opportunity to raise funds for public awareness and cutting-edge research that is giving new hope to those battling this often misunderstood disease. The top three fundraisers, announced on December 30, 2019, will earn trips to the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl and the Taste of the NFL.

The survivors earned the opportunity to share their powerful stories with key individuals with influence from across the country.

The lung cancer survivors that raise over $5,000 will be able to designate a beneficiary (Cancer Center or LC Organization) that will receive 90% of their raised funds (-fees) and the remaining 10% will support Team Draft’s mission to change the face of lung cancer.

Special thanks to the Atlanta Falcons, Lamar Scott, Astra Zeneca, the NFL and all of our Team Draft supporters for helping make this event possible.

Donate now to Support the National Campaign to Change the Face of Lung Cancer!