Awareness • Early Detection • Treatment • Research • Survivorship

Survivor at Every Stadium: Chicago Bears

View Photos

Chicago, IL. North Shore Health lung cancer survivor-advocate Tracy Anderson Murphy represented Team Draft at Soldier Field on Sunday. Tracy, her husband Jeremy, her father and her brother watched the Chicago Bears defeat the Detroit Lions to get their first win of the season. #BearDown #Tacklinglungcancer

Former Junior Olympian and lung cancer survivor Tracy Anderson Murphy was proposed to on the finish line of the LUNGevity foundation’s annual Breathe Deep North Shore Walk and Fun Run last April in Deerfield. She married Jeremy Murphy on July 16 in Island Lake. She has also resided in Skokie and Buffalo Grove.

Read more..

wedding1-jpg-20160718-1

Tracy Anderson Murphy 

The smile on my dad’s face was priceless when I told him that Team Draft was able to get tickets for him and my brother, Scott, as well. He isn’t smiling much these days,. My mom’s recent passing from lung cancer, has been so hard on all of us, but even more for him, since he lost his best friend and love of 50 years. What Team Draft is doing…how you make people feel…it can’t be bought…its truly priceless, and very much appreciated.

In 2012, we, Team Draft, launched our inaugural Survivor at Every Stadium 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.

Leveraging our connections with the NFL, its teams and players and our relationships with many of the top cancer centers in the country, As part of our National Campaign, this celebration of survivorship raises lung cancer awareness, gives hope to those battling the disease, and shines a light on the important work being done at cancer research and treatment centers around the country.

Tracy Anderson Murphy

Attending the Bears/Lions game with my husband, dad, and brother, as guests of Team Draft co-founder and former Chicago Bear, Chris Draft, was an experience we will never forget. We are a big sports/athletic family and I grew up watching my Bears every game day with my parents and little brother. Getting to interact with many Bears Alumni, especially my all time favorite, Gary Fencik, was very exciting!

Because we just lost my mom to Lung cancer 4 weeks ago, I/we needed to share a happy day together to keep our hope for more good days alive.

As a lung cancer survivor who used her competitive attitude to defeat lung cancer, being in the presence of so many like minded athletes is just so inspiring. It reminds me that I am strong and to keep that mindset, and to always “make the play, cry later”.(my mantra)

Team Draft made me feel like a VIP the whole time! Between all the pictures, the way he introduced me to other alumni, the whole experience… just amazing.


Being able to represent Team Draft is an honor that offers me the opportunity to be a lung cancer advocate. It allows me to help change the face of lung which helps to rid us of the ugly stigma that our disease carries. Doing so will help increase funding for research which will save lives. It doesn’t get any better than that!!!

 

_dsc0873

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.

 

_dsc0765

Special thanks to the Chicago Bears, Coach John Fox, North Shore Health, Lungevity, and our Team Draft supporters for helping make this experience possible.

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