Triangle LUNGe Forward 2026 Recap: A Day of Joy, Hope, and Impact

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month - Screening Saves
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month - Screening Saves

What a joyful and hopeful day it was at this year’s Triangle LUNGe Forward 5K Run, Walk & Celebration—and this one was extra special as we celebrated the 20th annual event. From the energy at the starting line to the meaningful moments shared throughout the day, it was a powerful reminder of the strength of this community and the impact we’ve built together over two decades.

Thanks to this incredible community, we are thrilled to share that we exceeded our goal—raising $163,115, reaching 108% of our fundraising target. Your generosity and commitment continue to fuel lifesaving research and vital patient support programs. We were also proud to welcome 583 registered participants, including 41 survivors, whose strength and stories inspire us all.

A heartfelt thank you to the individuals who helped make the day so special:

  • Tiffany Cyrus, Event Chair, for her leadership and dedication
  • Joy Henderson, Committee Member, Survivor Friends and Family Tent organizer, ABC11 interview guest, and survivor speaker
  • Dr. Laura Alder, for representing Duke Health, our presenting sponsor, and for sharing impactful remarks
  • Tom George with ABC11, our media sponsor and emcee, who kept the energy high throughout the event

There’s still time to make an impact! Donations remain open, so you can continue to support the event or contribute to a team of your choice. Click here to view the full leaderboard and donate.

Congratulations to all of our medal finishers for their incredible efforts on the course. Especially to our Male 5k Overall Winner, Kyle Bevers, and our Female 5k Overall Winner, Sarah Gray. Click here to view race results.

Want to relive the excitement? Click here to browse event photos captured by our on-site photographer, Sarah Kibler.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our wonderful sponsors for their generous support in making this event possible:

  • Duke Health
  • Amgen
  • Pharmacosmos Therapeutics
  • AstraZeneca
  • Daiichi Sankyo
  • Biologics by McKesson
  • Bristol Myers Squibb
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Regeneron
  • Guardant
  • UNC Health
  • WakeMed
  • Pfizer
  • Adapt Health
  • Genentech
  • Jazz Pharmaceuticals
  • Sam’s Club
  • Sunbelt Rentals
  • ABC 11

Finally, it was a true honor to celebrate alongside our founder, Amy Cipau, as we recognized 20 years of impact. Her vision and dedication—and the milestone of this 20th annual event—made this day even more meaningful.

Thank you for being part of such a memorable celebration. Here’s to the next 20 years!