First, let me apologize for no update last week – “back-to-school” is kicking me in the behind
Second, WOW!!!! I received a report on Sunday the 20th and then again this morning and the increase in walkers and money is incredible! YAHOO! We are up to $12,000, 234 walkers and 23 team captains! And the season has really just begun!!!!
Lastly, let’s cheer on this week’s walkers!
9/19/09: Jennifer Perryman (Wichita) – sorry I missed you last week! Hope it was great!
9/26/09: Karen DeVinney (Orlando), Beck Marko (Sparks, NV), Eric O’Neil (Santa Rosa, CA), Kristin Marren (Pearl, MS), Megan Merritt (Seattle, WA) and Renee Rubio (Tuscon, AZ)
Go Team Friends of Heroes and Affiliates!!!!!! Hope you all have terific walks! Please send pictures my way if you have any! I’d love to update the website!
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma Awareness Month. Both awareness initiatives are near and dear to the heart of Friends of Heroes.
An estimated 10,730 children under the age of 15 were diagnosed with cancer in the United States in 2008, with leukemia being the most commonly diagnosed childhood cancer at 32.6 percent of all cases. Lymphoma ranked as the third most diagnosed pediatric cancer in 2008.
Our group began with a passion to put an end to childhood cancer and we annually participate in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walk to raise money and awareness for a cure. There are simple ways we can each make a difference by supporting research, raising awareness and contacting legislators.
Did you know:
Every five minutes, someone in this country is diagnosed with blood cancer?
Every nine minutes, someone loses the fight?
Leukemia is the leading cause of disease-related death among children under age 15?
Approximately 3,000 children die from a blood cancer every year?
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) funds lifesaving research that has contributed to major advances in the treatment of blood cancers and treatments for other types of cancer, such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. These treatments have helped patients live better, longer lives. New targeted therapies that kill cancer cells without harming normal tissue are providing drugs and procedures that are improving quality of life.
A donation of $25 provides patients and their loved ones with FREE booklets that contain up-to-date information on their disease and help them make informed decisions about their treatment options.
A donation of $50 makes possible a Family Support group with a trained facilitator where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family members.
A donation of $100 helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.
A donation of $1,000 makes possible one- on-one conversations with health care specialists who provide patients with information about their disease, treatment options, and helps prepare them with questions for their health care team.
Join our Light The Night Team – Friends of Heroes and raise awareness among your family, friends and co-workers. Light The Night Walk is the nation’s night to pay tribute and bring hope to thousands of people battling blood cancers and to commemorate loved ones lost.
Funds raised by walkers provide:
Lifesaving blood cancer research
Financial assistance to cover patient expenses for transportation, medication and testing
Free educational materials and events for patients and their families
Local programs such as Family Support Groups and First Connection, a peer-to-peer counseling program
Comprehensive, personalized assistance through our Information Resource Center
Light The Night Walk events are evenings filled with inspiration. Carrying illuminated balloons – white for survivors, red for supporters and gold in memory of loved ones lost to cancer – thousands of walkers – men, women and children – form a community of caring, bringing light to the dark world of cancer.
Urge Your Representative to Co-Sponsor Pediatric Cancer Survivorship Legislation
Improvements in long-term survival rates for pediatric cancer patients present some new challenges for patients, family members, providers and policy makers. Patients may face greater risk of secondary cancers; they may have limited access to follow-up care; the follow-up care they do receive may be inadequate; and some may face cognitive or psychosocial problems. Expensive long-term treatments, hurdles to purchasing health, life, or disability insurance, and employment barriers also pose difficulties for cancer survivors.
Reps. Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) recently introduced the Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer Survivorship Research and Quality of Life Act (H.R. 2109). This legislation would provide much needed resources to fund research and survivorship programs that would dramatically improve the quality of life for all cancer survivors.
Please take a moment to send a letter to your representative urging them to co-sponsor this important legislation. Please make sure that pediatric cancer survivors receive the care they need as they move on with their lives.
Download a Coupon for 30% Off with 5% going to LLS
Leukemia survivor, Lance Bigelow, is someone who knows first-hand the importance of Gap’s Give & Get program benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). He participated in the spring campaign. Lance and his family knew that taking advantage of the Give & Get program’s 30% discount, they would also be contributing to LLS’ blood cancer research efforts, research that helps kids like Lance — research that fights the number one cancer among children.
Thanks to the efforts of families like the Bigelows, the spring campaign raised $600,000 for research to find a cure.
By participating in our summer campaign you can help blood cancer patients live longer, better lives — and look good doing it!
Then visit any Gap, Inc. store from July 30th to August 2nd to take advantage of the 30% discount offer. Please note that this offer is good from July 30th through August 2nd only! The Gap Give & Get coupon is good for purchases at any Gap, Inc. store, including Gap, Gap Outlet, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory Stores and Old Navy. The coupon is for in-store purchases only and is good in both the United States and Canada.
Remember, when you download a coupon for discounted clothes from this site you’re helping The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society fight the number one cancer among children. Send this page to your friends and family and help our cause even more!
The Light the Night season is fast approaching and it is the perfect time to remember WHY we are walking. Please join us by adding a comment to this post about why you are walking for Friends of Heroes, how you found us and what you would like to see in the coming years. Let get this party started!!!!
Friends of Heroes is a national Light the Night Friends and Family team. We are comprised of moms, dads, families and friends compelled to help find a cure for blood cancers.
Friends of Heroes is the largest team of this type in North America and we have raised over $1 million for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in the last 5 years through Light The Night Walks.