Dr. Brendon M. Stiles to be recognized as 2026 Medical Honoree for advancing comprehensive patient-centered lung cancer care
The American Lung Association in New York is inviting the Hudson Valley community to unite as one mighty force for lung health by participating in the LUNG FORCE Walk on June 13, 2026. The 11th annual event will take place at Manhattanville University with a fundraising goal of $200,000 to advance lung health.
The LUNG FORCE Walk is a celebratory and welcoming event that provides critical funds for lifesaving research, early detection initiatives, programs and services to help achieve a world free of lung cancer and lung disease. It is also an occasion to honor the memory of those we’ve lost to lung cancer and to lift up those who need our support. Participants will walk a 1-mile or 2-mile walking route around the beautiful campus.
Registration is now open at LUNGFORCE.org/hudsonvalley
This year, the event will recognize Dr. Brendon M. Stiles (pictured above), as our 2026 LUNG FORCE Walk Hudson Valley Medical Honoree. As a distinguished Professor and Chief of Thoracic Surgery and Surgery Oncology at Montefiore Einstein, and Associate Director for Surgical Services at Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in the Bronx, New York, Dr. Stiles is a strong patient advocate and supporter of the lung cancer community. (Downloadable Image)
Dr. Stiles said, “Having lost my own father to a diagnosis of advanced non-small cell lung cancer, it’s an incredible honor to be recognized by the American Lung Association as the Medical Honoree for the LUNG FORCE Walk Hudson Valley 2026, walking with patients and colleagues to raise both awareness and money for life-saving lung cancer research. I know how important community awareness, education, and early detection are to patients at risk for lung cancer and I strongly believe we need to offer and deliver biomarker-driven, state-of-the-art treatments to every single person diagnosed with lung cancer to improve outcomes.”
“We are calling on our community to join us to help put an end to lung cancer and lung disease one step at a time,” said Erica Masin, Executive Director at the Lung Association. “Thanks to the dedicated support of our leaders like Dr. Stiles, we have seen real-world impact of our education, research and advocacy efforts. We want to also extend a thank you to all our participants, volunteers and sponsors, for the Hudson Valley LUNG FORCE Walk who have helped raise over $1 million since 2016 to help end lung cancer.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths in New York and across the U.S. Someone is diagnosed with the disease about every two minutes. But there is hope. More people are surviving lung cancer due to increased awareness and advancements in detection and treatment. The five-year survival rate has increased to nearly 30%, which is a 26% increase over the last five years. Funding research into new treatments and potential cures, raising awareness of lung cancer screening and reducing stigma around the disease are key to saving lives.
For more information, and to register, visit LUNGFORCE.org/hudsonvalley.
Thank you to our local LUNG FORCE Walk sponsors, including White Plains Hospital and Manhattanville University.
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About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit:? Lung.org
