Conference(s):

“Shine a Light on the Next (tobacco free) Generation – 150 Attendees and the Great American Smoke Out with about 50 Attendees

Exhibit: The Evolving Cigarette

Featured at the PIP Moyer Recreation Center, Annapolis, MD November 11, 2017 and the Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, MD, during the week of November 13th with additional activities on Nov. 16.

Focus of Meeting:

Shine a Light on the Next (tobacco free) Generation

Shine a Light on the Next (tobacco free) Generation

Shine a Light: Shine a Light on Lung Cancer provides hope, inspiration and support for those impacted by lung cancer and those at risk—from survivors to the newly diagnosed to loved ones to healthcare professionals to those simply wanting to help. This event is not only to connect those in the lung cancer community but also promote healthy living for the next generation as well as hear stories of survival and inspiration through song, dance & poetry.

We combined the traditional Shine a Light program with a youth event which discouraged tobacco use (& other harmful substances).  We collaborated with community partners, specifically, community youth leaders and youth groups through schools and churches.  The youth provided the entertainment (& energy!) of their own creation through song, dance, skits, poetry, spoken word, etc. all with the common theme of promoting lung health.

The event included The Evolving Cigarette – which generated a lot of discussion -; games, displays art and raffles were also included throughout the afternoon.  We had testimonials from adults and children who have been affected by a lung cancer diagnosis.  The young people had to complete a “scavenger hunt” for knowledge to ensure that they learned about the dangers of tobacco.

At the end of the day, everyone held up glow sticks for a moment of reflection and to “shine a light” on those impacted by lung disease.

The Great American Smoke Out (GASO): The Evolving Cigarette display was then relocated to our hospital campus.  It was displayed in the atrium of one of our pavilions where it was very visible to patients, visitors and staff for the week of the GASO.  On the actual day of the Smoke Out we staffed a table with Tobacco Treatment Specialists who provided information on lung health, lung cancer prevention, and tobacco treatment resources.

We also had entertainment by one of our physician assistants who wrote a song in memory of her father who passed away from lung cancer.  All the proceeds from her song being downloaded will go to youth tobacco prevention programs.  See the link at:

https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/kathleenvalentovishpotte