I want to begin by thanking each and every person across the country that supported this campaign and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  To let everyone know, the campaign officially ended on June 5^th with a record breaking campaign.  Last year the total raised was approximately 350K, this year this campaign raised $803,000.00!!!!! It was a tremendous effort to support this organization; an organization that is tireless about funding research and assisting patients, it is truly amazing.

 

The Heme team raised $65K, an amazing amount of money which truly surpassed my expectations.  Carolyn Balling, a Hike Coach for the Team in Training Program, won the title of Woman of the Year raising 67K.

 

The Heme Team Campaign really had nothing to do with me, it was not about me…this campaign was completely fueled by the love and energy of so many patients past and present and families who have lived with and died from blood cancers. To give patients and families a voice and a platform to tell their powerful stories and to raise money for an organization that is so close to my heart because it directly impacts the lives of patients who struggle with these illnesses.  To say this was humbling and overwhelming is an understatement.  I had the support of UCSF Medical Center and the support of the physicians, nurses and staff in the Hematology/BMT Program and this campaign brought lots of people together in such a positive way with such a wonderful enthusiasm to be a part of a team and part of something special. Patients spoke at our events and really connected people to the mission of the LLS and the mission of those of us in medicine who work in this amazing field and are so privileged to care for these amazing people.

 

I would like to Thank the following people and believe me my words are not adequate:

 

Peter & Tina Locke.  Peter & Tina are true examples of making lemonade from lemons and teaching us all by example what true grace, spirit and generosity look like.  After struggling through Leukemia and a bone marrow transplant that has not always been a smooth road, they smile, do not trip over the small stuff and have enriched all of our lives in our clinic.  Peter was my biggest cheerleader, most generous sponsor and even rallied his friends to donate unbelievable sums of money to support this cause. I do not have the words to truly express my gratitude and admiration of these 2 magnificent people.  The best part…Peter is here and just celebrated his 65^th birthday, accompanied his wife to Paris, cheered his daughter Christie on for her TNT triathlon and will meet his bone marrow donor in a few weeks…for me personally it just doesn’t get better than that.

 

David Miniat, Miniat Inc., Amy & Charlie Nalon, Sara & Stacy Huels and Ron Miniat. There is no place like home and the generous support of my family in Chicago, Il.  The unwavering generosity of my cousins and their company to help support this organization was really heartwarming and overwhelming.  Along with Peter & Tina, they were the biggest sponsors of this campaign and these patients and I feel so incredibly blessed and grateful to come from a family that just opens their arms and hearts wide to support others.  Thank you David, Amy, Sara and Ron for always being there and for such generous support of this organization. You have made a huge difference in the lives of so many people.

 

THE HEME TEAM: My dear friends and my adorable son who without hesitation put much of their own lives on hold for the last 10 weeks to support this campaign and these patients.  Who are always there no matter what, you are truly the best team in the world and look what you have done 65K!!! Michelle, Dean, Diana, Jeff, Brittney, Michael, Lorraine, Katie, Julie, Adrienne, Archer and Ali.   YOU ROCK!!! Also the teenagers from Clayton Valley who washed cars, stuffed envelopes and were all around awesome...Jared, Austin, Nick, Nathan, Brittney, Sean, Drew, Alex and all the others…

 

The LLS TEAM: Julia Stanley, what an amazing campaign manager with such grace and professionalism and support. It was a true pleasure to work with you. Amber, Kara and of course Lindsay, Susan and Pat…to have you as not only colleagues but dear friends is a wonderful gift. 

 

All the patients who put their stories on our website, spoke at our events, attended our events, donated time, energy and love, especially Karen Koltonow, Stefanie Dugan-Lowe and Rosemary Gong.  A GIGANTIC thank you to Phil & Julie Frye for the tremendous support and liaison to BR Cohn Winery.  Also 4 Docs: Babis Andreadis, Caroline Behler, Wei Ai and Jeff Wolf and Willis Navarro for attending events, speaking and generously donating your time and money when you all give at the office EVERY day…you are why I have stayed at UCSF for 21 years…THANK YOU.

 

The following people and organizations gave their time, and money to support this campaign:

Rusty Wells of Urban Flow Yoga. Brendan Eliason of Periscope Cellars, Suzi Potts- Sip& Stretch, Bruce Cohn & BR Cohn Winery, Stephen & Trust Winery, Cyrus Reporter & Millenium, Dave Neff, Cheryl Pierson & McKesson, and Craig Andersen who never hesitates to say yes every time I ask him…thank you for your generous heart and my campaign mentor Jennifer Schatz. Thank you for all the proofreading, support and very practical advice, you were wonderful.

 

This has truly been an incredible experience and one that I will never forget.  The generosity of people, the team of people that came together, the spirit of love and support the connection to the cause and organization that is so close to my heart.  I asked you all to open your hearts and each of you said yes without hesitation.  I am truly honored, humbled and happy.

 

With Love,

 

Lisa

 

PS.  I am posting an e-mail Myland Hui sent today, he is a permanent honoree for me and his wife Carolyn is an amazing TNT participant raising so much money for the LLS.  His story sums up the reason we all work in this field, support this research and continue to be relentless for cures. 

Myland You are the truest inspiration. Maholo friend!!!