CVS Health's Eileen Howard Boone (left) joins Quincy, Mass., resident Jillian Flaherty for the first pitch at Fenway.

CVS' Eileen Howard Boone (left) with Jillian Flaherty and Red Sox mascot Wally.

CVS' Eileen Howard Boone (3rd from right) with Jillian Flaherty and her family.

CVS Health has teamed up with the American Lung Association to fight lung cancer with a national in-store fundraising campaign to support Lung Force, an initiative that encourages people to unite against lung cancer, the leading cancer killer of women and men.

From May 3 to May 23, consumers can donate $1 or $3 at checkout in CVS/pharmacy stores or online at cvs.com/lung, with proceeds supporting lung cancer education and research for better treatment options and improved methods of early detection.

To help kick off the campaign, Quincy, Mass., resident Jillian Flaherty this week threw out the first pitch at a Boston Red Sox-Toronto Blue Jays baseball game Fenway Park to inspire fans to donate to Lung Force, for which CVS is a national presenting sponsor. Flaherty, a senior at Framingham State University, lost her 52-year-old mother Brenda Villa to lung cancer in 2012.

“We are so appreciative of Jillian for sharing such a personal story and are thrilled to support Lung Force for the second consecutive year with our in-store fundraising campaign,” stated Eileen Howard Boone, senior vice president of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy at CVS Health, who joined Flaherty for the ceremonial first pitch. “Education and awareness will help raise much-needed dollars for research to improve treatment options for so many people living with lung cancer. Advocates like Jillian are crucial in the fight to beat lung cancer, and their support will help save the lives of thousands of people.”

CVS noted that the campaign aligns with its mission to put people on the path to better health, including by leading tobacco-free lives. In early September, the company stopped selling tobacco products in its more than 7,800 CVS/pharmacy stores, making it the first national drug chain to do.

“The success of last year’s campaign made great impact on our mission to empower more people to join the fight to defeat lung cancer and change the perception of this terrible disease,” commented Audrey Sylvia, national assistant vice president of the American Lung Association. “To be able to partner with CVS Health again this year is a wonderful opportunity, and we can’t thank them enough for their continued support.”

Syvlia and Marianne Gibson, director of corporate partnerships for the American Lung Association of the Northeast, also were at the game to support Flaherty, who also had family members in attendance.