Our LUNGSTRONG Board is 100% volunteer. We are so fortunate to have such dedicated individuals supporting our mission.
Officers:
President & Founder
July 7, 1962 - December 30, 2024
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Diane fearlessly battled lung cancer for over 20 years, becoming a beacon of hope for so many in their own fight. She used that time to raise three sons, along with her husband Dave, and to become a tireless fundraiser and advocate for leading-edge lung cancer research. As co-director of the New England chapter of the Lung Cancer Alliance from 2006 – 2012, she launched “Shine a Light on Lung Cancer,” the largest international awareness event for the disease.
Diane founded LUNGSTRONG in 2011 to provide unrestricted funding to lung cancer researchers, allowing them the freedom to think “outside of the box” in pursuit of potentially transformative treatments. After her diagnosis, Diane ran four half marathons & rode in 13 Pan-Mass Challenges; not allowing lung cancer to define who she is or what she can do. Through her work, Diane hoped to help de-stigmatize lung cancer and generate the much-needed funding for lung cancer research with the goal of finding a cure. She led the organization to raise over 8 million dollars for lung cancer research at Dana Farber and Mass General. Our organization is honored to continue her legacy, fueled by her memory.
Jill O'Leary
Treasurer
Jill met Diane many years ago through their sons and quickly became friends. Diane’s undying will to fight this disease amazed Jill and she eagerly became interested in fighting Diane’s fight alongside her. In 2013, Jill started the first annual LUNGSTRONG 5K run and 1 ½ mile walk in Beverly, MA. Jill has been a Board Member since 2013 and has served as Treasurer since 2015.
Jill is the Controller of Newburyport Development (A New England Development Company), Jill and her husband Jim have 3 grown sons, Brett, Shane, and Peyton. When Jill isn’t working, she enjoys the beach with Jim, walking her dog Maverick, reading books, horseback riding and spending as much time as possible with her sons.
Board of Directors:
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Dave Legg
In addition to being Diane Legg's husband and father of 3 boys, I am a Vice President of Quality Assurance at Charm Sciences Inc. in Lawrence, MA. After riding in my first Pan-Mass Challenge in 2008, I helped start the PMC Team LUNGSTRONG the following year and have been riding this event ever since. I have been on the LUNGSTRONG board since its inception and am proud of the fundraising efforts of this organization to support innovative research for the treatment and cures of lung cancer.
Beth Vossler
Beth Vossler joined the LUNGSTRONG Board of Directors in 2019 but has been supporting the organization since its inception. She is happy to be on the Board and to help promote its mission. Beth, sister to Diane Legg, is proud of the work Diane has done to shine a light on lung cancer, be the voice for others, and advocate for many that are fighting lung cancer, even as Diane continues to fight herself. Beth brings her experience of being on another small nonprofit board. She is an RN, MSN, with more than 40 years of experience. She lives in West Hartford, CT with her husband Chris. Beth was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2024.
Careyanne Davis
Careyanne became friends with Diane in 2009 and began volunteering for LUNGSTRONG the following year. She has helped organize and run LUNGSTRONG’s signature Live It Up event since 2011, and has been a member of the Board since 2017. The loss of her Nana and more recently, her beloved Aunt Kath to lung cancer, have strengthened her resolve to continue to raise funds for innovative research. She strongly believes that we must all work together to change the dismal statistics of this disease.
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This summer she will be riding her tenth time with the LUNGSTRONG Pan Mass Challenge Team. Careyanne has been a practicing Physician Assistant for 25 years and lives with her husband Jeff and children Zach, Drew and Violet in South Hampton, NH.
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Lauren Gonthier
Lauren is an Amesbury native and has seen first-hand the profound mark that LUNGSTRONG has made in her community. In 2020, she began volunteering with the organization as a Marketing Assistant. In early 2022, Lauren joined the board. She now collaborates closely with Jill Carter (Marketing Director) on all things marketing and design, specializing in social media content creation. She is proud to be able to help LUNGSTRONG towards their mission and looks forward to seeing the impact she knows LUNGSTRONG will have on the future.
Scott MacDonald
Scott’s wife Patricia was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2012. Patricia and Scott met Diane shortly after and were inspired by her courage and extraordinary dedication and efforts to raise money for lung cancer research. Patricia experience first hand the benefits of the Boston area research and treatment expertise, including trials for targeted drugs and innovative combination drug therapies. Patricia survived six years with an exceptional quality of life. Scott is deeply committed to helping the world class researchers and doctors in the Boston area advance their work through fundraising. Scott brings over 25 years of business leadership and non-profit experience to the LUNGSTRONG board.
Julia Gaynor
Julia became a lung cancer advocate in 2008, after losing her mother to this disease following a three-month illness. Having run marathons for Team in Training to benefit leukemia and lymphoma, she was disheartened to learn that there were so few opportunities to support lung cancer at that time.
That changed when she met Diane Legg, who introduced her to the Lung Cancer Alliance and helped Julia channel her grief by participating in Shine a Light on Lung Cancer events and lobbying for more federal lung cancer dollars in Washington, D.C.
During that time, Julia created Team LungLove, a nationwide marathon team for lung cancer, and in 2018, Julia rode her first Pan-Mass Challenge with Team LUNGSTRONG. She has been on the LUNGSTRONG board since the summer of 2024.
Julia works in marketing and splits her time between Andover, MA and New Durham. NH. She lives with her partner, teenage children and cat Frankie, and enjoys running, cycling and traveling.
Lily Hanlon
Lilly and her father, Kevin, became proud members of Team LUNGSTRONG after he received a stage IV lung cancer diagnosis in 2016. After riding in her first Pan Mass Challenge in 2018, she instantly experienced the camaraderie, strength, and drive within the LUNGSTRONG family and knew that this group was special. She continues to ride in memory of her dad, who passed in 2019, and strives to expand research opportunities and treatment options for lung cancer patients alongside Diane and the rest of the team. Lilly is a pediatric occupational therapist residing in Jersey City, NJ and is honored to be a part of this impactful organization.