Would it make sense for a school with 39,840 students to receive $28,660 to operate while another with 157,300 students only receives $1,386?

Yet, this is the discrepancy existing between the funding for breast cancer research and those for lung cancer.

No one seems to know why such difference when in 2007, 158,760 Americans died of lung cancer, and the number of breast cancer deaths was only one fourth at 39,840, according to the Lung Cancer Alliance in Washington, D.C.

For 2010, estimated death figures are given as 39,840 due to breast cancer and 157,300 caused by lung cancer, and 80 percent of the lung cancer victims are reported to be non-smokers or people who had quit smoking.

Thomas Cappiello of Punta Gorda learned of these facts in a most tragic way, and this is why today he is so involved in the fight against lung cancer. He is the local event organizer for the Nov. 13 “Southwest Free to Breathe” event, a 5K Run/Walk & 1 Mile Memorial Walk” to raise funds and awareness of this number-one cancer killer of Americans.

Lung cancer is reported to kill more people than breast, prostate and colon cancers combined, according to the National Lung Cancer Partnership.

“I was diagnosed with lung cancer three years ago,” said the financial advisor who writes a column, “Living with Cancer — my diary” for Feeling Fit. “It was stage 3, very advanced. I was treated, but I learned that it was the number-one killer, and it receives the least amount of funding for research.

“Does that make sense? That’s why I got involved. I thought I was a dead man after that diagnosis. I had the treatment; the tumor shrank, but it never disappears. It is lingering somewhere. When I found out lung cancer is the number-one killer, I was appalled.”

Could it be that lung cancer is so ignored because the victims are usually blamed for having brought the condition on themselves, because they were smokers? Some victims believe it may be the source of such discrimination, yet 80 percent of lung cancer patients either never smoked or were no longer smokers.

“Most either had quit or never smoked,” Cappiello said.

Other causes of lung cancers are radon, asbestos and other environmental sources.

This fact is not known by the general public, however, according to Cappiello. “Nobody is advocating for lung cancer, because lung cancer patients are dead. ‘It’s your own fault’ is the attitude. The attitude has to change and that’s why I got involved. In the next 10 years, two million people will die from lung cancer, that’s more people than were killed in World War I, World War II and the Civil War combined. How much money do we spend for war? No money is allocated for lung cancer.”

Cappiello said the majority of federal funding for medical research comes from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Center for disease Control (CDC) and from the Department of Defense (DOD). The majority of the money goes for AIDS and breast cancer research. The latter received $1.1 billion while lung cancer received $190 million, according to Cappiello.

If early detection was available for lung cancer, like it is for breast cancer with mammograms, a tumor in the lung could be detected early on. By the time Cappiello’s tumor was uncovered, it was the size of a baseball, he said. It causes no pain.

“Somebody has to speak for lung cancer,” he continued. “If I don’t do it, who is going to do it? Last year, we had 306 participants (in the walk) and we had 60 volunteers. My goal is to double the numbers so 700 people participate in 2010, and I want to raise $70,000. Last year, we raised about $30,000.”

A month before the 2010 Southwest Florida Free to Breathe event, the second being held here, $25,000 had been raised.

“We still have four weeks to go, so we are doing pretty well,” Cappiello said. “I encourage people to register early, online. When you register online it is cheaper. They can pick up the packets at three locations.”

The web site is www.FreetoBreathe.org. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Cappiello at tecappiello@gmail.com.

Last year, the first time the event was held in Charlotte County, it was called “Punta Gorda Free to Breathe.” This year it was renamed “Southwest Florida …” in order to reach out a much greater area. This year, only two “Free to Breathe” events are scheduled for the entire state.

“Our goal is to have one in all major cities in Florida,” Cappiello said. “If people can’t walk or can’t participate physically, it’s OK. You can go online. You can create your own team and create a goal. My personal goal is $5,000, and I am way behind, so I need a lot of help.”

Recent events only reinforced his will to raise money and bring awareness about the devastation caused by lung cancer.

“Two people from my group passed away this past week,” he said. “Both women were in their 60s.”

He also learned of another, who was 42 with four children, and she never smoked.