The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Blog

A comprehensive look at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society [Video]

millss — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:46:54 GMT

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is an extraordinarily busy non-profit. We’ve got patient programs, research funding initiatives, advocacy programs and so many events that it’s hard to decide which one (or ones) to participate in. Even for someone who works here, it’s hard to fully comprehend the breadth of work that we do on behalf of our mission to fight blood cancers.

We just posted our most recent video that gives the public a chance to see and listen to staff, including our CEO, John Walter, talk about what we’re doing in the fight against blood cancers. It's 10 minutes long and well worth the watch.

Also check out our great mission video that features real blood cancer patients and/or their families.

Share your thoughts in a comment below – did you learn something new about LLS through these videos?

A Day and a Race for Susan Butcher

millss — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:49:41 GMT

Iditarod: a word that probably makes people shiver – some with cold, and others with excitement. This Alaska race is sometimes referred to as the “Last Great Race on Earth.” Dogsled teams (mushers and their dogs) compete to get to the end of 1,150 cold, treacherous miles first, hoping to become the champion.

Susan Butcher participated in more than a dozen Iditarod races and was a four-time champion. She was also the second woman to win the race.

In December 2005 Susan had another challenge set before her: Leukemia. She fought hard, winning praise and encouragement for her dedicated fight from Good Morning America (see the video on www.susanbutcher.com). When it was found out she needed a bone marrow transplant, inspired Alaskans came out in droves to donate. Sadly she lost her battle less than a year later in August 2006.

Despite the loss of Susan, her memory is still honored to this day through the actions of others.

At the opening ceremony of the Iditarod race this past Saturday (March 1st), Alaska governor Sarah Palin signed a bill saying that every first Saturday in March would be “Susan Butcher Day.” (The Iditarod race also starts every first Saturday in March.) Gov. Palin said, "No one exemplifies the spirit of Iditarod more than Susan Butcher."

Susan is also being honored in another way. Her husband, David Monson, is participating in a completely different type of race - with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training at the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon in June. (The TNT program is the marathon’s official training program.) His participation will help earn money for leukemia research and patient services.

Support David and honor Susan by donating to LLS at his page on the TNT website. (Be sure to also watch the touching PSA posted there.)

Learn more about Susan Butcher by visiting her website at www.susanbutcher.com.

Find out more about how you can participate in Team In Training:
Team In Training is currently recruiting for their Summer season. Events include: Rock 'n' Roll Marathon® , San Diego, CA - June, 1 2008; America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride, Lake Tahoe, NV - June 1, 2008; Mayor's Marathon and Half Marathon, Anchorage, AK - June 1, 2008. For more information please call (800) 482-TEAM or visit www.teamintraining.org.

Team In Training - Running into love

millss — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:26:21 GMT

Valentine’s Day is one of our favorite times of year, and not just because it gives us an excuse to eat more chocolate (although I’ll admit it’s a good reason to love the day). It’s a reminder that we have helped bring couples together through some of our Team In Training (TNT) events.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's TNT program, in case you don’t know, is the world’s largest endurance sports training program. Their incredible coaches train people for marathons, half marathons, triathlons, and century 100-mile bike rides. And while they train, participants raise funds to help find cures for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma research and provide information and support to patients and their families.

While the goal has been to help LLS, participants have also found lifelong friends and love.

Melissa Kushnick and T. J. Caplinger met at a TNT practice for the 2006 Nike Women’s Marathon, a Race to Benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. For T. J. it was love at first sight, “As soon as I left practice I called my friend and said, I know this sounds crazy but I just met the girl I’m going to marry.”

They began dating, and decided that they would participate in the following year’s event. At the 2007 Nike Women’s Marathon, T. J. asked Melissa to marry him and she said yes. They plan to marry in a few weeks on March 7, 2008. Congratulations T. J. and Melissa!


The signs asking Melissa to marry T. J.	Putting on the ring!	T. J. & Melissa by the shore

Take a moment to read some other TNT love stories – these couples are celebrating the day they met, fell in love, and helped LLS. Today is probably one of their favorite days as well.

Want to find a valentine? Find or celebrate love with us at one of our TNT events:

Team In Training is currently recruiting for their Summer season. Events include: Rock 'n' Roll Marathon® , San Diego, CA - June, 1 2008; America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride, Lake Tahoe, NV - June 1, 2008; Mayor's Marathon and Half Marathon, Anchorage, AK - June 1, 2008. For more information please call (800) 482-TEAM or visit www.teamintraining.org.

Watch one of our 2008 Team In Training videos.