Meet Your COPD Foundation Captains!

COPD Foundation Captains are volunteers with COPD, caregivers, friends and family members or healthcare providers who use their contacts and talents and partner with the COPD Foundation to serve as state and community leaders.

Captains promote the importance of becoming a part of the COPD community. They work to spread COPD awareness in their state and local areas, mentor fellow COPD community members, and participate in online and in-person grassroots advocacy and community building activities focused on health policy issues that are important to those who have COPD. If you are interested in joining our group of volunteers, click here.

If you'd like to speak with a COPD Foundation Captain directly, please email statecaptains@copdfoundation.org and we will connect you with the Captain in your area of interest.


Kandy Blankartz

Kandy Blankartz Profile Photo Mobridge, South Dakota


My family has a very strong history of asthma back to my great grandfather, my dad, me, my two girls, my sister’s boy and now it's starting on some my grandchildren. I almost lost my oldest daughter in her junior year of high school. She went into a respiratory arrest and was so close to dying. She went on to get her RT Degree and her RN Degree. I want to bring the awareness of COPD to the public.

As State Captain I hope to effectively advocate about lung disease.

My proudest COPD moment was being asked to join the COPD Foundation as the South Dakota State Captain.

My inspiration to share is “He who has health, has hope and he who has hope has everything.”

 



COPD Foundation State Captain Program Informational Video

The COPD Foundation is looking for new State Captains to join our community to be champions for promoting COPD awareness, improving quality of life for those with COPD, to participate in research opportunities, policy, and much more. Email statecaptains@copdfoundation.org for questions and to start the onboarding process today!