The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Launches Expanded Man & Woman of the Year Campaign

Two, 10-week fundraising campaigns supporting LLS's vision of a world without blood cancer will kick off in April

SAN FRANCISCO, March 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Greater Bay Area chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) will launch its 23^rd annual San Francisco Man & Woman of the Year fundraising campaign on April 4, 2013 at the University Club in San Francisco and its inaugural North Bay Man & Woman of the Year campaign on April 18, 2013 at a private home in Sonoma.

Thirteen Bay Area candidates will dedicate ten weeks to cultivating donations for vital blood cancer research and services for patients and their families. The San Francisco and North Bay campaigns will run almost concurrently and offer an array of opportunities for the community to support LLS's vision of a world without blood cancer. The candidates who raise the most money will be named the San Francisco or North Bay Man & Woman of the Year. Below please find a list of this year's candidates, several of whom have been touched by blood cancer.

2013 CANDIDATES FOR SAN FRANCISCO MAN & WOMAN OF THE YEAR

David Bevilacqua (He is a lymphoma survivor)
Dominic Chan
Steve Chen
Eric Dew  
Jackie Omotalade
Christopher Orr
Tanya Petrossian
Christina Resasco
Marc Rosenberg
Tatiana Takaeva
Paul Tuan
Jennifer Zanotto

2013 CANDIDATES FOR INAUGURAL NORTH BAY MAN & WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Joanne Sanders
Fran Templin
Katie Leonardini

LLS IS ACCELERATING NEW CANCER THERAPIES AND SAVING LIVES

Since 1949, LLS has invested more than $875 million to develop better cancer treatments. Since the early 1960s, the survival rate for many with leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood malignancies has doubled, tripled and even quadrupled. Nearly half of all cancer drugs first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 2000 were developed for blood cancer patients. Thanks to LLS support, thousands of Bay Area blood cancer patients today live normal lives. Some manager their condition with just a daily pill, rather than suffer acute treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation as in years past.

CAMPAIGN HONORS TWO YOUNG SURVIVORS

This year's San Francisco campaign honors two young and courageous survivors of acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) – Sarah, age 11, of Pleasanton and Rhett, age 5, of Corte Madera. After two and a half years of treatment, Sarah is a typical 5^th-grader. She enjoys swimming playing softball, cheering on her favorite baseball team (the Giants) and playing with her friends. Rhett is on the tail-end of treatment and his prognosis is good. His cancer cell counts are few and his chemotherapy is less intense. Today, he is back at school and enjoys running and playing just like other preschoolers his age.

Our inaugural North Bay campaign also honors two children with ALL – Hanna, age 5, of Santa Rosa and Brody, age 3 of Rohnert Park. Both are still undergoing treatment, although Hanna's official end of treatment is scheduled for March 29, 2013. Hanna loves to play dress up, play with dolls and dance. Brody, on the other hand, is about a year into treatment; he was diagnosed in January 2012. Brody loves to ride his bike and play with trucks and his older brother.

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.

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