News
Gary Bain Dies at 68; Pioneer in COPD Patient Advocacy
Gary Bain, President and founder of the volunteer COPD online support group EFFORTS, died of pulmonary failure Wednesday, April 30 at age 68.
Bain created EFFORTS (which stands for Emphysema Foundation For Our Right to Survive) with two other emphysema patients, Mick Wagner and Sharon Adkins, in late 1997 as a support and advocacy group for those with emphysema, now usually referred to as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
First diagnosed in 1986 by a doctor who told him he had about six years to live, Bain set out to learn everything he could and got involved in support groups, culminating in his own EFFORTS. “We started it in December of 1997 and it took off like gangbusters,” he said in the introduction to his website. EFFORTS now has more than 2,300 members.
“The COPD Foundation and the Alpha-1 Foundation wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the family of Gary Bain,” said John Walsh, President of the COPD Foundation and President and CEO of the Alpha-1 Foundation. “Gary was a pioneer in patient advocacy for individuals with COPD. He impacted thousands of lives through his dedication and commitment as the founder of EFFORTS and all the related activities, his psychosocial support, dissemination of information, and day-to-day inter-connectivity.
“Gary shall always remain an inspiration and example of the impact that an individual can make in helping others.”
In an interview on the Alpha-1 Foundation’s website, he said the motive behind EFFORTS was the need to address many unanswered questions, and he felt the website helped to improve patient knowledge. “I think it’s great for any patient because the more you know, the better you’re armed. Once you learn to relate to the problem, you can learn how to control it.”
He was married for 43 years to Harriet Ann Bain, who predeceased him.
Ultimately, he outlived his doctor’s prediction by 16 years.
