Susan Warmerdam of Elmhurst has very personal reasons for walking in this year's Fight for Air Walk next month. The 47-year-old non-smoker was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in February.

"Medically speaking, my cancer will never be in remission, but I am hopeful for a cure during my lifetime," she said.

Susan also is walking in memory of her father, who passed away 10 months after his lung cancer diagnosis. Her mother is a breast cancer survivor.

Susan is this year's top fund-raiser in the Fight for Air Walk, which is sponsored by the American Lung Association of Greater Chicago. To date, she has personally raised $7,020; her team, Team Susan, has raised nearly $8,000.

The 2012 Fight for Air 5-K Walk will be held on Sunday, Sept. 30, at McDonald's Hamburger University, 2715 Jorie Blvd., Oak Brook.

Anyone interested in starting a team, joining a team, joining as an individual, volunteering at the event or donating can visit the Fight for Air page on the American Lung Association website.