Family Honors Father with Memorial Golf Outing

FLORENCE KY (09/30/2010)(readMedia)-- Jessi Wells vividly recalls her father's battle with lung disease. "Dad's illness came suddenly…when he got sick, we thought it was anxiety," she recalls. Rick Stiene was a loving father, husband and friend. He was active with his daughter's sports and activities growing up, and he loved to play golf.

As the Stiene family later found out, his breathing problems were not anxiety related. On the day Rick Stiene was diagnosed with advanced emphysema, his family was not sure he would make it through the night. After an intense two year battle with emphysema and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) which included one month in the ICU, a stay in a rehabilitation center and 'round the clock home care from his family, Rick passed away on June 15, 2009.

Throughout this two year battle, the more the Stiene family learned about COPD, emphysema and lung disease, the more they found that lung disease research is not as well funded as other illnesses. "This spoke volumes for me," Jessi Wells explains. "I have to do something, if I can prevent or help one family we will all be happy."

The First Annual Rick Stiene Memorial Golf Outing is being held on October 9, 20 at Boone Links Golf Course in Florence, KY . Hosted by his daughters, Jessi Wells, Laura Blick, Leann Carr, Cindy Stiene, and wife, Mary Jo Stiene, the Golf Outing hopes to pay tribute to Rick Stiene while raising money and awareness for the American Lung Association.

Foursomes are invited to pre-register or participate as walk-ins. Registration begins at 12:30pm with a shot gun start at 1:30pm. Registration fee is $300 per foursome, including 18 holes of golf, a cart, refreshments, and an after party. All proceeds will benefit the American Lung Association and its mission to save lives by preventing lung disease and promoting lung health. For more information or to register contact the American Lung Association at (513) 985-3990.

COPD, short for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Over 10 million Americans are diagnosed with COPD, but up to 24 million may have it without knowing. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in America, while there is no cure for COPD it can be prevented and treated.

For more information on the work of the American Lung Association, visit www.midlandlung.org or call your local office at 800-LUNG-USA.