She also grew up with parents who smoked on a daily basis – inside the house – and as a result, was exposed to secondhand smoke since birth.  Since Aleek’s parents grew up in a country where smoking was permissible as a teenager and the health risks were unknown, they did it because it was normal.  Although Aleek’s mother quit smoking, her father still smokes a pack a day – making it a nearly 47 year run.  Knowing that the Lung Association can help smokers quit, and that our programs have produced a 20% decrease in DC smokers, is her primary reason for joining the organization.  By providing programs that help educate residents about lung diseases and ways to promote lung health, the Lung Association helps residents who need the help but can’t necessarily afford it.  Lung Association programs help children with asthma, smokers who want to quit, and residents who suffer from other forms of lung disease, such as COPD.  It is very important to have the grassroots support to keeping our mission alive, especially since lung disease is so prevalent in DC.  After all, if you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.