Beloved actor, Leonard Nimoy, known best as “Spock” on Star Trek, seized the chance to become more than a science fiction icon when he became one of the faces and voices of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) before the disease took his life on February 27, 2015. Nimoy’s granddaughter, Danielle, founded Shop LLAP in honor of her grandfather, with a mission to raise funds for research on the fatal disease.

Shop LLAP — short for “Live Long and Prosper” — recently expanded its product line of Leonard Nimoy merchandise along with a redesigned website. For every item sold, Shop LLAP donates 70% of proceeds to COPD research initiatives. The late actor’s fans have been actively supporting the online store’s cause.

“We considered closing our store when my grandfather died, but it was so clear that the people whose lives he has touched so wanted it to continue,” said Danielle Schwartz, the co-founder of Shop LLAP. “My goal is to keep its prosperity and preserve the immortal bond between my Poppi (Grandpa) and his fans.”

Browsing Shop LLAP, one will find a wide array of Leonard Nimoy and Spock related products. Best sellers include the shirts “Spock’s Quote,” “The Vulcan,” and LLAP, all sold in fond memory of the icon. From humble beginnings on Etsy, Danielle drew inspiration from customers’ compassionate feedback and support, and expanded to an independent domain. Her grandfather’s fan-base continues to show enthusiastic support.

Avid Leonard Nimoy fan Bonnie M recently commented, “I have loved every item (T-shirts, totes, photos, cards, etc.) I have ever purchased from Shop LLAP (I even go back to the Etsy days!) So grateful you are maintaining the shop and your Poppi’s legacy!”

To learn more about Shop LLAP and browse Leonard Nimoy and Spock memorabilia, visit http://www.shopllap.com.

In other recent COPD news, in a new national survey of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, researchers at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based Health Union discovered a surprising lack of awareness of risk factors and knowledge of diagnosis stage — results that demonstrate a severe impact on quality of life, employment, and ability to afford treatment.

The COPD In America survey was conducted online in April of 2015 with 1,009 respondents who were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a resident of the U.S. or U.S. citizen living abroad. More details about the survey are available upon request.