“This song motivates me to never give up. To keep on going, even when my illness wants to hold me back. To fight back and never give up.”

“My mum and I used to sing ‘Don’t Worry be Happy’ even though it was horrible to see her fight to breath.”

“Sets the tone of how the world I once knew changed when I was diagnosed with Alpha-1. What was once normal became a landscape I no longer recognized.”

These are quotes from three of the ten winners of our summer music challenge. We asked the COPD community to submit a song to us that had a special meaning to them.

What we got in return was over 50 submissions with heartfelt descriptions, stories and songs that illustrated the power of music exemplified through lyrics, melody and feelings it evokes.

It was a hard choice, but our staff and Board of Directors managed to whittle down the list to ten:

1. Barbara Hlatky — “Fight the Good Fight” by Triumph. “This song motivates me to never give up. To keep on going, even when my illness wants to hold me back. To fight back and never give up.”

2. Sue Koch — “I Run for Life” by Melissa Ethridge. “She is so inspirational in her writing and how she presented herself on stage during her ordeal. While the song represents her overcoming breast cancer, it reminds me not only of several people dear to me who have also overcome (or lost) to the same, but who have struggled with other disease and shown such strength. In particular my Mother. I run and fundraise for COPD, this song helps me orient when I train, reminding me of and honoring those who held strong through so much more, and give me a good kick in the butt if I ever feel like stopping.”

3. JoAnn Spitz-Duran — “No Air” by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown. “If you listen closely to the lyrics, you will see why I think it should be COPD’s anthem song. It is beautiful, and it exactly expresses the emotions of how it feels to live when it’s hard to breathe and there is NO AIR.”

4. Tina Moyer — “Time With You” by OneDogMustGo. “This song is from two very talented men in my life. My husband and son. It gives me a lot of love. And that I made a mark on their lives as they did on mine. COPD is just a part of my life. Spending it with them makes it worthwhile. They have many more but this is my favorite. Enjoy!”

5. Elise VanCise — “Breathless” by Russell Crowe and TOFOG. “Let love and life make you breathless, not COPD.”

6. Melanie Jane Taker — “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin. “My mum struggled so very hard for nine years until she lost the battle, I think this is [a] brilliant foundation and well done. My mum and I used to sing ’Don’t worry be happy’ even though it was horrible to see her fight to breath.”

7. Kathy Morris Riggio — “This Is It” by Kenny Loggins. “I was going through a very dark period in my life, feeling overwhelmed, hurt, frightened and angry. I got in the car, put the radio on and just started driving aimlessly. At one point, I started to cry and pulled over. I started pounding on the steering wheel and screaming to God ‘this is it, I can’t take anymore! Please God, are you even listening?; At that moment, this song came on the radio and played, not once but 3 times, as an instant replay. I was stunned, I immediately felt calmer and an inner strength encompassing my body! I felt as if God was speaking to me! Over the years, this song has continued to be a source of comfort and strength to me.”

8. Nancy Forman Joyce — “Son” by Justin Joyce. “This song was written by our son Justin about his dad being sick with Alpha-1. He recorded it when he was with the band Hello Mahlo. Please go to the link below and listen to ‘Son’. We are truly touched by this song.”

9. Diane Hegwood Atchley Beach — “Aqualung” by Jethro Tull. “Really helps my mood and really takes you back, like you are young again. The words to the song are a little depressing, but,If you really think about it,you think well,things could be so much worse. Ian Anderson is such a talented man. I could listen to him play his flute all day. I envy him being almost 63 and still has the lung power and energy to still perform for the past 40 years. Great song.”

10. Noreen K. James – “Right Where it Belongs” by Nine Inch Nails. “Sets the tone of how the world I once knew changed when I was diagnosed with Alpha-1. What was once normal became a landscape I no longer recognized. Surgery wheels spinning.”

If you are one of the winners, please send us your mailing address so we can send your $10 iTunes gift certificate prize!

We thank everyone for their participation, and congratulations again to the winners!

Stay tuned for our next contest….