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.


Billi Jo Laeuger

Billi Jo Laeuger Profile Photo Orting, WA


As a respiratory therapist and the newest State Captain for Washington State, I hope to accomplish getting more people involved in pulmonary rehabilitation programs, patients and hospital officials.

As a COPD advocate I have spoken to my family and friends about COPD, I have written about COPD in a newspaper, magazine, or other publication, and I have taught in Pulmonary Rehab.

As a State Captain I am interested in connecting others in the COPD community to the resources available so they can live healthier, fuller lives, and raising awareness by participating in health fairs and community events. I would also like to host and participate in fundraisers to support my community.

My proudest COPD moment was when a patient told me that he went dancing with his wife for the first time in over ten years after attending our pulmonary rehab program.

My inspiration to share is, “Just Breathe- breathing is hard let's learn how to do it better!”

More about me, “I have been a Respiratory Therapist for five years, I have been working in diagnostics about that long. In 2016 I also helped open the pulmonary rehab in our hospital and I have been hooked since. I love teaching people how to breathe better and improving their quality of life”.

 



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!