“You are not alone.”

That was the message of a White Ribbon Project event at City of Hope, Orange County this week.

Maggie Castaneda-Scott, with City of Hope Orange County, and Trisha Zabala, from left, paint a ribbon during a White Ribbon Project event at City of Hope in Irvine, CA on Thursday, October 13, 2022. The White Ribbon Project aims to support those diagnosed with lung cancer and to change the perception that lung cancer only affects smokers. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dr. Edward S. Kim, Physician in Chief at City of Hope Orange County, speaks during a White Ribbon Project event at City of Hope in Irvine, CA on Thursday, October 13, 2022. The White Ribbon Project aims to support those diagnosed with lung cancer and to change the perception that lung cancer only affects smokers. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Staff at City of Hope Orange County wrote messages on ribbons during a White Ribbon Project event at City of Hope in Irvine, CA on Thursday, October 13, 2022. The White Ribbon Project aims to support those diagnosed with lung cancer and to change the perception that lung cancer only affects smokers. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Hospital staff, cancer survivors and others take a group photo during a White Ribbon Project event at City of Hope in Irvine, CA on Thursday, October 13, 2022. The White Ribbon Project aims to support those diagnosed with lung cancer and to change the perception that lung cancer only affects smokers. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Diane Miller tries on her LA Rams jersey with cheerleaders and former NFL player Chris Draft before a White Ribbon Project event at City of Hope in Irvine, CA on Thursday, October 13, 2022. Miller is one of the 20% diagnosed with lung cancer who never smoked. She will be recognized at the Rams game on Sunday as a Crucial Catch Captain. Crucial Catch is the NFL’s cancer awareness outreach. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Lung cancer survivor Peg Berens paints a ribbon during a White Ribbon Project event at City of Hope in Irvine, CA on Thursday, October 13, 2022. The White Ribbon Project aims to support those diagnosed with lung cancer and to change the perception that lung cancer only affects smokers. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Diane Miller high fives LA Rams mascot Rampage during a White Ribbon Project event at City of Hope in Irvine, CA on Thursday, October 13, 2022. Miller is one of the 20% diagnosed with lung cancer who never smoked. She will be recognized at the Rams game on Sunday as a Crucial Catch Captain. Crucial Catch is the NFL’s cancer awareness outreach. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Physicians and staff at the hospital celebrated lung cancer survivors while painting more than 30 large white ribbons.

The ribbons will be distributed to survivors during November, which is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

Former NFL player and White Ribbon Project spokesman Chris Draft said the effort’s mission is to let people know they are supported.

Draft’s wife, Keasha, was diagnosed in 2010, at age 37, with lung cancer. She died a year later.

One desire of the project is to change the perception of lung cancer; 20% percent of lung cancer patients, including Drafts’ wife, have never smoked.

“Regardless of cancer stage, regardless of smoking history, we want people to know they are not alone,” Draft said as volunteers sat in the outside garden of the City of Hope campus painting ribbons.

Draft also presented Diane Miller, of Costa Mesa, an LA Rams jersey that she will wear to Sunday’s game during which she will be honored as a Crucial Catch Captain. The NFL’s Crucial Catch mission is to fight all cancers through early detection and education.

Dr. Edward S. Kim, the Irvine cancer center’s physician-in-chief, said the landscape of lung cancer is changing with better research, screening and treatments – some as easy as a daily pill.

“The survival trend is getting better,” Dr. Kim said.  “We’re moving it in the right direction.”