Northern Virginia native, Megan Imbert, is passionate about creating awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. So much so that she has decided to throw her hat into the ring to be named Woman of the Year in their 10-week fundraising challenge. She will be attempting to raise the most money in the DC Metro Area for this important cause.
Megan Imbert, 2015 LLS Man and Woman of the Year Candidate
We are happy to be able to give Megan a forum in which to get her message out. Please read her Guest Post and help Megan reach her goal.
Some Leukemia & Lymphoma Facts:
Blood cancers are the third most fatal form of cancer, behind only cancers of the respiratory and digestive systems.
Someone new is diagnosed with a blood cancer every three minutes. Every ten minutes, another child or adult passes from the disease
Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20
More than 1.1 million Americans are currently facing leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma
Almost one-third of blood cancer patients still do not survive five years after their diagnosis
GUEST POST BY MEGAN IMBERT (#2AffectLLS)
Annually, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (501c3), the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services, hosts a 10-week Man and Woman of the Year Fundraising Challenge within each chapter. This intense competition will include 24 candidates — 12 men and 12 women in honor of the 24th Anniversary this year. Each will work to raise the most funds in order to be named the Man or Woman of the Year.
Last year the National Capital Area, which serves the DC Metro Area including Montgomery, Prince George’s, Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, Alexandria, Prince William counties, raised a historic $1.6 million for LLS! The National Capital Area Campaign has consistently led the country in fundraising and continues to grow each year due to ongoing support from corporate sponsors, business leaders and the DC Metro community.
The mission of LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease & myeloma while improving the quality of life of patients and their families. I am honored to be a candidate in this year’s 10-week challenge beginning April 2 and concluding June 13. As I embark on this journey it’s my desire to raise the most funds for LLS but also to raise the most awareness for the amazing work that this organization does and the progress they have made for cancer patients in recent history.
For example:
- Almost 40% (31 of 81) of all new cancer therapies approved by the FDA from 2000 through 2014 were first approved for blood cancer patients.
- LLS-funded research helped advance Gleevec for patients with CML, Rituxin for patients with lymphoma, and Velcade for patients with myeloma and lymphoma, increasing survival rates.
- In 1964, the five-year survival rate for children with the most common form of leukemia was just 3%. Today 90% of children diagnosed will survive. The five-year survival rate for Hodgkin’s lymphoma rose from 74% in 1975 and is 87% today.
I have pulled together some amazing people for my campaign team which we’ve named #2AffectLLS. While our goal is to fundraise, I really want to inspire, educate and ultimately motivate the community to get involved and make an impact. Whether they donate their time, money or use their voice, all is beneficial. It is my goal to share the stories of those whose lives have been touched by LLS and know that we as a community care and are dedicated to make a lasting impact on cancer.
One very special aspect of the Man and Woman of the Year Campaign is that each chapter chooses a Boy & Girl of the Year, two young local blood cancer survivors. The Boy & Girl of the Year are the faces of this campaign — attending candidate events with their families, sharing their stories and providing inspiration to all they encounter.
Meet the Boy & Girl of the Year for The National Capital Area:
Noah Ramirez and Hope Veazey
Noah Ramirez, eight years old, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in December 2012. He spent Christmas and New Years in the hospital undergoing intense treatments. Since then, Noah has faced many challenges, including three bone marrow aspirations, numerous chemo treatments, hospital stays and two blood transformations. Noah is on his way to recovery and will have his last treatment in March 2016. Noah loves riding bikes, playing and watching baseball, playing with cars and spending time with his family, especially his big brother. When he grows up he wants to be a baseball player and WWE wrestler.
Hope Veazey, eight years old, was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) in July 2013 at the age of 7. She is enduring a two and a half year chemo treatment but is tolerating it, and the harsh side effects. She is focused on beating this disease, sharing her story to help other children and getting back to her childhood, thanks to her great support system of doctors, family and friends. She has been a great patient, learning quickly to take all her oral medications and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regime to help recover from her treatments. Hope is a strong young lady, recovering from her intense chemo phase fairly well and tolerating the adult medicines and treatments. Hope enjoys reading, biking, swimming, and gymnastics. She also loves playing with her sisters Joy and Peace, and their dog Maguire.
Noah and Hope are sharing their lives with all of us to help educate and inspire. My campaign, as well as the 23 other candidates, is working tirelessly to help fund research to lead to cures and extend life expectancies for those with cancer, but we need the help of the community to continue to make progress.
Team 2AffectLLS is actively seeking business sponsors, volunteers, silent auction items and donations (April 2-June 13). For more information or to find out how you can help please email [email protected], follow #2AffectLLS throughout the campaign and visit www.2AffectLLS.com often to learn about upcoming events and donate during the 10 weeks.
“I have been impacted by cancer — losing my aunt to ovarian, my dad is a prostate cancer survivor and numerous friends have had the disease — and to know that LLS is helping save lives for all cancer patients makes this a top cause for me now. 76 cents of every dollar goes to the mission, a mission not just about research, but about giving back for patient services, etc. Most importantly, I really want my campaign, #2AffectLLS, to be a message to the community that you don’t have to be personally impacted by a cause to care and make a difference.” — Megan Imbert
The 2015 National Capital Area Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Man and Woman of the Year Challenge runs from April 2, 2015 – June 13, 2015.
