WHEREAS, about every two and a half minutes, a person in the United States is diagnosed with lung cancer; and

WHEREAS, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for women and men; and

WHEREAS, Maine has the 6th highest lung cancer incidence rate in the country and an estimated 1,640 Mainers will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2022 alone; and

WHEREAS, lung cancer screening saves lives, and advocacy and increased awareness will result in more high-risk individuals getting screened; and

WHEREAS, Maine has the 4th best screening rate in the country at 12 percent, but to increase survival rates through early detection more Maine people must be screened; and

WHEREAS, public support for research funding will result in new treatments and better methods of early detection; and

WHEREAS, the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE is a national initiative to defeat lung cancer; and

WHEREAS, established by LUNG FORCE, "Turquoise Takeover Week" is recognized annually during the second week in May and is marked by participants wearing the signature turquoise color of LUNG FORCE on social media, at walks and runs, and other public awareness events;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the great state of Maine, do hereby designate May 8th through 14th, 2022, as

Turquoise Takeover Week

in Maine, and I encourage all Maine people to learn more about lung cancer and its risk factors and to take part in critical lifesaving screening.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this tenth day of May Two Thousand Twenty-Two