The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services.

I'm participating in the 11th annual Arizona Leukemia Cup Regatta on January 15-17, 2010. I will be sailing in rememberance of my father, Donald, who passed away 30 years ago as a result of Leukemia. This photo taken in 1967 shows him with me and my brothers. I will let all donors know which one is me if you cannot guess.

In 1980 there were very few treatment options available to blood cancer patients. I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Ian Charles, from San Francisco, who was diagnosed with Myeloma in the summer of 2008. In October 2009, exactly one year after receiving a bone marrow transplant, he completed the Ironman Triathlon event in Hawaii.  His recovery demonstrates the progress that has been made in discovering new and effective cures.   

Our 2009 event raised $78,000 in support of the local LLS chapter research funding. In addition to the $1.4 million in blood cancer research that was funded last year, the chapter has awarded a new $600,000 translational grant to a new researcher, Dr. Josef Prchal from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He specializes in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and adds a new specialty to the five other researchers in the Arizona/Utah chapter.

The cancer treatments that have been developed since 1980 are amazing and much of it is the result of research supported by past donations.  Please make a donation to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society research and patient support programs. By doing so, we'll both be helping save lives. I hope you'll visit my Web site often to check in and see how my fundraising is going.

Thanks for your support!

Tony Chapman