LCA News:

LCA Remembers John Atkinson, Lung Cancer Advocate and Friend

John with his family in Omaha, November 2007

Friday, June 12, 2009--Today, we all mourn the loss of a courageous, honorable and loving person, John Atkinson.  John lost his battle with lung cancer yesterday, but he never gave up in his fight.  Every email he and his wife signed ended with the salutation, “Keep the Faith.”  We will do just that for John and all of those impacted by lung cancer.

We first came to know John after his initial diagnosis of lung cancer.  Over the past two years, he became a beacon of hope for all those touched by this disease.  He demonstrated through his actions and love of family and faith what one person can do to bring awareness, compassion and hope to a once ignored community against seemingly insurmountable odds. 

Through his willingness to share his story and become a face of lung cancer, he inspired so many to follow in his footsteps.  This was clearly demonstrated through his participation in the first US Open Golf Digest Challenge last June, where he received four times as many votes as any other finalist. He played for love of the game and graciously allowed LCA to come along for the ride. Being able to walk alongside John, his friends and family is a moment we will never forget. It was an honor to share laughter, tears, great conversations and cold beer as we proudly walked the 18-hole course with Team Atkinson! Matt Lauer, who played with John in the Golf Digest Challenge, honored John and his family on the Today Show this morning: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891#31305306.  Entertainer Justin Timberlake, who joined John and Matt Lauer at the US Open last summer, recorded a message on Access Hollywood commemorating his friendship John Atkinson: Justin Timberlake Remembers John Atkinson.

We cherished our intimate conversations with John -- hearing about all his antics with his brother and friends, and the fun times with his wife and three children and extended family. He instilled in us faith in the strength of the human spirit and the ability to find meaning in every day life.  John will continue to renew our sense of purpose each and every day. He is an inspiration to us all and we are humbled to call him our friend.  He will be greatly missed.  We extend our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved John.    

Keeping the Faith,

The LCA Team