Cecilia Izzo I am Chair of Lung Cancer Alliance’s newly formed Washington State Chapter. An eight year (and counting) lung cancer survivor, I am primarily responsible for LCA’s activities in Western Washington, including forging relationships with hospitals and medical professionals, fundraising, and public outreach.

I am a regular visitor to both the state capitol in Olympia and that “other” Washington, meeting with local and national leaders to advocate for lung cancer awareness and garner support for the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act. In 2010 and 2011, I successfully organized and coordinated the first Shine a Light on Lung Cancer vigils in Washington State, and in 2006 was instrumental in getting Washington’s Initiative 901 — the statewide ban on smoking in public establishments — on the ballot, where it passed by overwhelming majority.

Despite three major surgeries — including a pnuemonectomy in 2004 — I enjoy an active lifestyle. In addition to regularly walking and biking, I’ve participated in numerous half-marathons, hiked through the Costa Rican jungle, snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, camped on Mt. Rainier, rowed for a dragon boating team, and — while undergoing chemotherapy — traveled to England to see my favorite musical artist Van Morrison in concert.

I hold a BSN from Columbia University, an MSEd in Exercise Physiology from Queens College, and am a Certified Diabetes Educator. I currently work in the Pediatric Endocrine Department at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, I’ve lived in Colorado, Kansas, New York, New Jersey, and Boston, but consider Seattle, where I have resided for 14 years, my true home. I share my life with my two precious daughters — Rachel, soon to graduate Seattle University, and Natalie, a freshman at Macalester College in St. Paul — and my husband of 25 years, Jeffrey, an Assistant Professor at the University of Memphis.