Delaware Lung Force hero committed to helping save lives
Raising more than $80,000 over the past three years to help end lung cancer is remarkable, but for Cristina Kalesse and team, it’s not nearly enough – they’re committed to saving more lives and ending lung cancer.
Kalesse, a Wilmington resident and assistant principal at Alexis I. du Pont High School, was named the American Lung Association’s top individual Lung Force Walk fundraiser in the nation for fiscal year 2021, raising $23,500. She was even thanked by award-winning actress Laura Dern!
In the past three years, Kalesse and her Warriors Never Quit team have raised an additional $36,000. They are now gearing up for the Lung Force Walk Rehoboth, set for 10 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 17, and have raised an additional $30,000 – and still counting. To learn more or to register, go to lungforce.org/rehoboth.
Kalesse and her husband Rob became involved in Lung Force when he was first diagnosed, and he began working with the lung association to raise awareness and help others. Sadly, Rob passed away in January 2020. Cristina continues his work and commitment to saving lives, improving lung health and preventing lung disease. Following is Cristina Kalesse’s story.
“My involvement in this organization started when we were given Rob’s devastating diagnosis, and we both found hope with the American Lung Association. In January 2019, Rob was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic lung cancer. The doctors told him that he had less than a 5% chance of survival past one year, and that it would be a hard, tough battle. Having beaten Hodgkin’s Lymphoma as a teenager, Rob knew what he was up against. He went through chemo, radiation and immunotherapy treatments, underwent brain surgery to remove one of three brain tumors, and endured physical and occupational therapy with the same passion and optimism he had before his illness. While undergoing treatment, Rob continued to work and live his life fully by making his visitors laugh; he did not want his cancer to define him. In November of 2019, the cancer became more aggressive and spread throughout his body. Sadly, Rob left us in January of 2020.
“Since Rob has passed away, my world – our world – has changed, but I have found comfort in the legacy and hope that Rob left behind. In October 2019, Rob spoke at the Lung Force Walk in Rehoboth and conveyed how, with his diagnosis, he learned the importance of compassion and support for anyone who is trying to survive lung disease and lung cancer. I have thought about these things a lot in the last year and am grateful for all the people who give me hope, compassion, and support as I find my way. Rob talked about being thankful. In his closing speech at last year's Walk, Rob said, ‘I’m thankful for each day I get a chance to keep battling, to do the simple things in life, like take my dog for a walk, going to dinner with family, and of course, to attend inspiring events like the Lung Force Walk.’
“Lastly, the one word that I can’t stop saying or sharing with people when asked to share my ‘why’ is hope. It would have been easy for Rob to abandon hope when he was told that his cancer had come back more aggressively, but even as his cancer progressed, he would tell me he wasn’t going to give in, and neither should I. So, I take the message of hope with me every day as I proudly support the ALA and Lung Force – because warriors never quit.”
In addition to raising awareness and funding through Lung Force Walks, Cristina advocates for lung health with Delaware legislators, helping to champion a world free of lung disease.
