Kathy Weber

Denver, CO. Lung cancer survivor Kathy Weber was the first runner-up in Team Draft’s Lung Cancer Survivors Super Bowl Challenge. Kathy and her family spent a few days in Hawaii and watched the NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium on January 31, 2016.

“I am humbled and grateful to the IASLC, the Team Draft 2016 Super Bowl Challenge, and all those who sponsored me with donations. As the second place fundraiser, my family and I have won a trip to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii! Amazing!”

The Super Bowl Challenge participants were part of a friendly competition, with the top fundraisers awarded trips to Super Bowl 50, the NFL Pro-Bowl and the Taste of the NFL. Kathy and the other winners, announced on January 4, 2016, had an opportunity to share their powerful stories with key individuals with influence from across the country.

“I joined the IASLC and Team Draft Foundation to increase awareness and research funding for lung cancer patients like me, young and non-smokers, not to win a prize. After attending the IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer in Denver, I was shocked to learn the overall survival rate for lung cancer has been stagnant for almost 50 years and the 5 year survival rate is 19%.  While most lung cancers are diagnosed in advanced stages, my cancer was caught early. After a right upper lobectomy, I am cancer free at my 18 month check-up.

The survivors that raised over $1,000 were able to designate a beneficiary for 50% of their funds raised. Kathy designated the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) as her beneficary.

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“My goal is to continue my involvement in the IASLC supporting their research commitment and join Team Draft’s quest to ‘change the face of lung cancer’.” Kathy Weber

All of the participants were able to continue raising funds until the Super Bowl, February 7, 2016.

Team Draft was founded by NFL veteran Linebacker Chris Draft and his late wife Keasha, an engineer and Clemson graduate who died of lung cancer at the age of 38.

“Super Bowl and Pro Bowl week are a fitting time to spotlight the crusade to change the face of lung cancer. The level of commitment, drive and passion required to make it this far parallels the efforts required to get lung cancer research to the next level,” said Chris Draft who co-founded Team Draft with his late wife Keasha to change the face of lung cancer.

Keasha and Chris Draft had attended the Super Bowl the year of her diagnosis, fulfilling one of her lifelong dreams. The memory of that Super Bowl trip served as part of the inspiration for The Super Bowl Challenge. “It takes a team to tackle lung cancer, and the Super Bowl Challenge has expanded this amazing team. Keasha’s legacy of hope lives on through the Super Bowl Challenge team and we are grateful to all who have contributed and continue to contribute to lung cancer awareness, research, treatment and patient advocacy efforts, and “said Draft.  “We are excited to have the opportunity to take this year’s Super Bowl Challenge winners and their stories to the Super Bowl the Pro-Bowl and the Taste of the NFL.”

About the NFL Pro Bowl

The Pro Bowl returns to Hawaii’s Aloha Stadium on January 31, 2016. It’s Team Rice against Team Irvin squaring off in the game that brings you closer to the players through fun insider access. It will again serve as the signature event to kick off Super Bowl week.

Lung cancer survivor wins trip to Pro Bowl

Posted: Jan 31, 2016 10:13 PM EST Updated: Feb 21, 2016 10:14 PM EST

By Roger Mari

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In 2006, former NFL Linebacker Chris Draft established the Chris Draft Family Foundation to empower people to live healthy lifestyles. In November 2011 on their wedding day, he and his wife Keasha who was diagnosed with lung cancer launched Team Draft, an initiative of the foundation. Keasha lost her battle with lung cancer a month later.

“She cared about people. She loved them and wanted it to be authentic, and that’s what it has to be about,” said Draft.

Then came Team Drafts Lung Cancer Survivors Super Bowl Challenge.

Lung cancer survivor Kathy Weber of Kiowa, Colorado raised more than $9,000 to help spread awareness. She took second place earning her a trip to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl. She hopes other cancer survivors will take the same challenge.

“We’re a family. Everyone needs to come together. Every lung cancer survivor needs to come together to be part of this wave of spreading the news and educating the community,” said Weber.

This is her first trip to Hawaii.  On day one she went on an inspirational hike with Karen Latzka, a local lung cancer survivor.

“Seeing her being six years out gave me a lot of hope for myself being 18 months out,” said Weber.

As a runner-up in the Super Bowl Challenge, Weber feels she now has a responsibility to continue educating people about lung cancer.

“How do I use that? How do I represent myself to be, as I said, an ambassador to help spread the word about early detection and living a healthy life?” she said.

Draft, who spent 13 years in the NFL, sees himself as a Super Bowl Challenge Winner each year – but the prize is seeing the results of his work.

“I get to see life, energy, and then give them more energy,” he said.

The prognosis looks good, and Weber says her and her family will return to Hawaii for vacation.

“It’s been amazing. The Aloha Spirit that’s here in Hawaii is phenomenal,” said Weber.

The winner of the Super Bowl Challenge was Kim Ringen who is also from Colorado. She raised more than $23,000, earning her a trip to next Sunday’s Super Bowl.