Hillsboro Family Rallies Neighbors to Help Fight Lung Disease

Hillsboro couple Tim and Shawne Page’s lives have been devastated by lung disease, so now they are rallying their community to help them in their fight for a cure. On March 24, the couple will head to Springfield to climb the tallest building in central Illinois, the Wyndham Springfield City Centre, to raise money for the American Lung Association in Illinois.

Lung disease first hit the Pages in 2008 when Shawne’s father developed a severe lung disease that led to pneumonia. He fought for several months, but succumbed to the disease in 2009. Shortly after losing her father, Shawne’s mother was diagnosed with state IV lung cancer. She had surgery to have the cancer removed, but it returned and she lost her battle with the disease in 2015. Tim’s father then passed away due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma in 2017. Additionally, their 9-year-old son suffers from asthma.

“Tim, who is also a career firefighter, climbs because many of our brothers and sisters in the fire family will eventually turn up with some sort of lung disease from their career in the firefighting industry,” said Shawne.

Shawne initially learned about the Fight For Air Climb on social media, and signed up as a way to support the Lung Association in the fight against lung disease. This year, their goal is to raise $1,000 for the Lung Association.

“We need to raise more awareness and fund research for a cure and better treatments for lung diseases. There is a lot more they can do with more funding. Without the research, we can’t help people,” said Shawne. “I don’t want my children to go through what I went through with losing my parents at such a young age.”

This is Shawne’s fourth year climbing and Tim’s second year. Each year, the Hillsboro community comes together to support the couple’s efforts to fight lung disease. They receive donations from friends and neighbors, and sponsorship from local businesses like the Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department, The Journal-News, Weiss Power and Equipment, Jorns Signs, and others.

The Fight For Air Climb, presented by CEFCU, is set for March 24, 2019. The event attracts thousands of Illinois residents who race up the stairs of Wyndham Springfield City Centre (32 floors, 532 steps) in an effort to raise awareness and money to fight lung disease. Registration for the 2019 Fight For Air Climb is currently open online or by calling 217-787-5864.