Terri Ann DiJulio set an audacious goal last winter of raising $60,000 for GO2 for Lung Cancer before she turns 60 in January, 2021.

The birthday fundraising campaign, entitled 60 for Sixty was off to a strong start… then COVID-19 hit. Many people might have abandoned their goal. But not Terri Ann.

Terri Ann is an avid cyclist and professional business owner. She is also a two-time lung cancer survivor, and is one of five family members who have been diagnosed with lung cancer. With the passing of her Aunt Cathy this Fall, Terri Ann is now the sole family survivor. Grit and determination run in her family, as does a deep sense of responsibility.

Through numerous virtual events, social media outreach and personal asks, she reached her goal a month early, and as of this writing, has raised over $80,000!

Hear from Terri Ann in her own words:

What helped you stay motivated throughout the yearlong campaign?

This campaign was never about just me or this year; honestly, it just happened to be my 60th year and I thought that was a good excuse and this was the right time to do something big.  When I kicked off the campaign in January only to find the world in a pandemic less than two months later, I needed to continue my focus on my legacy, and my family.

WE, all of us (my family and yours), need to see progress in the fight against this disease. Motivation comes from determination, a determination that is as much a part of my genetics as lung cancer has unfortunately been for my family.

Why did you choose such a large goal?

After all I’ve experienced, it has been in the back of my mind for a while that if I made it to my 60th birthday, I wanted to do something big. By doing my part to educate my lawmakers and the public about this indiscriminate disease and raise funds to help other patients, I can make a difference and the loss of my loved ones will not be in vain.

Has the COVID-19 crisis impacted your fundraising?

Because of social distancing, I relied solely on social media posts, online fundraising retail shows, and email blasts to help people understand that although this is a tough time to fundraise, patients with lung cancer are at an especially high risk if COVID-19 enters their system.

What advice would you give to someone who is nervous to fundraise?

Although asking for funds can be intimidating, I have found that people really do want to help, all you have to do is ask. Tell your story and be sure to include why lung cancer advocacy is personally important to you, and why it should be important to them: “anyone with lungs can get lung cancer”.  People want to help, I promise!   Please don’t let the number I chose be intimidating.  I didn’t start out with big goals. ALL fundraising is important, whether your goal is $200 or $2,000, our lung cancer community needs every dollar. It all adds up and it ALL helps!

How has surpassing your goal impacted you personally?

I am humbled by everyone’s generosity and support. Every dollar carries such gratitude… I feel loved. I feel heard. I feel grateful. Still, I have so few words for what this campaign has taught me about coming together for a shared purpose with people who already mean so much to me…I am just so deeply grateful.

Join Terri Ann in bringing extra meaning to your own life milestone by supporting the GO2 for Lung Cancer. Click here to learn more.