The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Launches 22nd Annual Man & Woman of the Year Campaign to Fight Blood Cancer

Eleven Bay Area professionals kick-off spirited 10-week competition to raise funds for blood cancer research.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Greater San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) launched its 22nd annual Man & Woman of the Year fundraising campaign with a heartwarming reception at the Mark Hopkins San Francisco this evening.

Highlighting the festivities was the reveal of the 11 Bay Area professionals who will dedicate the next ten weeks to cultivating donations for vital blood cancer research and services for patients and their families. The candidates who raise the most money will be named the chapter's Man & Woman of the Year.  Below please find the list of this year's candidates, several of whom have been touched by blood cancer.

2012 CANDIDATES FOR MAN & WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Craig Adams
Deacon Carpenter
Nelum Gunewardane
Brianna Haag (Her father has chronic lymphoid leukemia.)
Krystelle Jensen
Marilyn Sargent Morgan
Alex Morrison
Krista Rochin (Her cousin and best friend have blood cancer.)
Roger Royse
Christie White (She is a non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor.)
Tim Williamson

BLOOD CANCER BREAKTHROUGHS TREAT MANY FORMS OF CANCER
Since 1949, the privately-funded Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has invested more than $814 million in blood cancer research, which has resulted in medical breakthroughs such as chemotherapy, radiation and stem cell transplantation.  These treatment protocols have proven effective in fighting blood cancer as well as many other forms of the disease.

In 2011, the Greater San Francisco Bay Area chapter of LLS invested nearly $4 million to fund 25 researchers at Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; and University of California, San Francisco.  Underscoring the importance of the Man & Woman of the Year campaign, LLS reports that a donation of $1,000 supports one week of basic blood cancer research at one of the universities.

CAMPAIGN HONORS TWO YOUNG SURVIVORS
This year's campaign honors two young and courageous survivors of acute lymphoid leukemia – Emme, age 9, of Lafayette and Alec, age 10, of Oakland.  After more than two years of chemotherapy, Emme is full of energy and enjoys playing soccer with her friends.  Alec is back to mountain biking, roller coaster rides and school after his long journey through treatment.

In 1960, a child with leukemia had a four percent chance of survival.  Advancements in treatment have led to an eighty-five percent survival rate today.  However, despite the increased survival rates, the number of leukemia patients has almost doubled and the number of lymphoma patients has tripled since 1975.

Don Sanchez, who has delighted audiences for more than 40 years on KGO-TV, is the Honorary Chair of this year's Man & Woman of the Year campaign.  "Thanks to the research and services provided by LLS, someone close to me has outlived expectations for survival and recently hiked up and down the Grand Canyon.  Every minute of every day, LLS is supporting research that is saving lives around the world," comments Sanchez.

PARTY FOR A CURE
The community can support the Man & Woman of the Year campaign by attending events sponsored by the candidates.  For more information about the exciting calendar of fundraising festivities, please visit www.mwoy.org/sf.

ABOUT THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. Its mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.  Founded in 1949 in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada.  To learn more, visit www.lls.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572.

SOURCE Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Greater San Francisco Bay Area Chapter