From Love to Legacy: Turning a Wedding Celebration into Hope for Lung Cancer Patients
May 6, 2026
For Janaki and Harsha, their wedding wasn’t just about celebrating a new chapter together; it was also an opportunity to honor the past, give back, and make a meaningful impact for others facing lung cancer.
Janaki’s connection to lung cancer is deeply personal. Her late husband, Kartik, was diagnosed with stage 4 (IV) lung cancer at just 28 years old while he was still a third-year internal medicine resident. Through a targeted clinical trial for his EML4/ALK mutation, he was able to continue working for several years before passing in 2015 at the age of 34. His journey continues to inspire Janaki’s commitment to supporting others impacted by the disease.
This was a second marriage that brought together 2 families, not starting from scratch. Material gifts didn’t feel necessary, but they knew their loved ones would still want to give something. That’s when they decided to turn their wedding into a fundraiser in honor of Kartik. “Many of our friends and family were familiar with Kartik’s journey,” Janaki said. “They were more than happy to donate, and several told us they thought it was a great idea.”
Lessons learned along the way
While their fundraiser was a success, Janaki reflects on what she might do differently.
“We didn’t initially go through GO2 because we were trying to get donations matched through companies,” she explained. “But in retrospect, it would have been easier, and likely more effective, to set up a GO2 fundraising page and link it directly on our wedding website.”
Planning ahead, she noted, could have streamlined the process and avoided fees from other fundraising platforms.
But what surprised them most was the incredible generosity of their community. “We were amazed by how much money we were able to raise.”
Tips for turning your own wedding into a fundraiser
For couples considering a similar approach, Janaki offers practical advice:
- Start early. Wedding planning gets busy, so give yourself time to set things up properly.
- Keep it simple. A direct link to a fundraising page makes it easy for guests to contribute.
- Spread the word beyond the website. Share your fundraiser at pre-wedding events or gatherings. Many guests won’t check every page on a website.
- Create in-person opportunities. If you’re hosting events leading up to the wedding, like bridal showers, engagement parties, etc, consider setting up a donation box.
- Ask for help. Friends and family are often eager to support both your wedding and your cause.
Continuing the impact
Even beyond their fundraiser, Janaki continues to connect others to GO2’s resources and recently referred a family friend for support.
“I love seeing what the organization is doing for patients and in research,” she said. “It’s providing hope and that’s one of the most important things when facing lung cancer.”
Make your celebration count
Inspired by Janaki and Harsha’s story? You can turn your own milestone—whether it’s a wedding, birthday, or special event—into a powerful way to support people impacted by lung cancer.
Start your own fundraiser benefiting GO2 and help bring hope to patients and families who need it most.
Learn more about how you can create your own fundraiser for GO2 for Lung Cancer.