I can't ever properly put in to words how much I needed that group of people and that purpose. I will say that having to train and be focused on raising money to help saves lives, combined with being surrounded by people who all understood grief - got me through the most difficult time of my life. I have met so many inspiring people who have been affected by blood cancers. People who have trained for and run marathons during treatment and parents who find the courage to smile everyday while taking a child to treatment.  I made lifelong friends and have participated in four events where I personally raised money for LLS as well as contributed to countless other campaigns.

We have traveled together, shared our stories, cried together and made new friends at every event who also share a passion for curing blood cancers. Below are a few pictures from our travels.

A few years ago I participated in the Man & Woman of the Year Campaign as a team member for Matt Newsom (winner!) and later joined the group that helps recruit candidates to run for future years. . I have recently accepted the challenge to run a campaign for Man & Woman of the Year 2019.  You may ask why and why now? To be honest this is the most challenging project I have ever considered taking on. I have been isnpired watching so many candidates face it in the past few years and have known that at some point it is simply the right thing to do. Help others. Be a cause for change. Fight for those who can't.

Additionally I have had a few more hard years with grief. I lost my dear friend Sisco Spence to cancer a few years ago. Last June at the gala I sponsored a table in honor of my friend Larry's mother (who died from Leukemia when he was 11) as a surprise for him. That was on June 2nd and on June 15th he died suddenly. I was lost again in grief. When I was approached about leading a campaign I was at the point that it was hard for me to get myself out of bed in the morning to face the day so I didn't feel like it was the right time.

After some time and some thought, I decided that, much like in 2012, focusing on helping others is just what I needed to do. Why not combat the grief of so many lost lives with helping to save others? Any why not do it with a very intimidating and scary goal? Thankfully I have a great team and a wonderful group of family, friends and colleagues I have met over a lifetime that are supportive. So, here we go...

It is going to be an exciting time as my team and I set out to raise over $300,000 in ten weeks time! I am asking for your help with a personal donation as well as to share this page with your networks. Please help us reach our goal for this campaign and help put an end to blood cancers.

I have joined a team that is driven to find cures for blood cancer. Our team is working to raise as much as possible over the next 10 weeks. Every dollar we raise counts as one vote for my team's candidate. The candidate whose team tallies the most votes earns the prestigious title of "Man or Woman of the Year". 

As you know, though, everyone wins when cancer loses. Thanks to your support, my efforts will help fund therapies and treatments that are saving lives. Over the years, support from people like you has been responsible for the blood cancer advancements that have doubled, tripled, and in some cases quadrupled the survival rate for some blood cancers.

Many LLS supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients, but are also now used to treat patients with rare forms of stomach and skin cancers and are in clinical trials for patients with lung, brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers. And LLS funded drugs like targeted therapies and immunotherapies are now saving thousands of lives every day.

We really are getting close to our goal of a world without blood cancers!

All donations are greatly appreciated and tax deductible. They'll not only support LLS research, but patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services as well.

Please visit my website often and tell friends who would also like to donate!

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you for your support! For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org