American Lung Association of Kansas

The American Lung Association is the country's oldest voluntary public health organization. It was created in 1904 to fight tuberculosis. Four years later the Kansas Chapter was formed. Funds from the Sale of Christmas Seals, made it possible to organize health professionals, open sanitariums and launch education programs. The result was a decreased number of deaths from TB and an increased awareness that pooled resources can defeat disease. The crusade for lung health continues. Today it embraces campaigns against asthma, emphysema, influenza, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis and a wide variety of threats from tobacco and air pollution. Parents and community organizations join doctors and other health care providers to design services and programs to promote health and combat lung disease. Private contributions underwrite the cost of the battle.