I can’t believe it is already June! Our local school is out this Friday and I am looking forward to our summer plans!!!

As a Friends of Heroes team captain, summer also signifies the ideal time for me to prepare for Light The Night fundraising. I mentioned last summer that it’s easy to get in a “fundraising rut“, but we can accomplish our goals with a little preparation and a positive frame of mind.

As always, Friends of Heroes continues to inspire me. Three of our walkers have already begun fundraising for Light The Night: Alison Bazeley, Kathie Eberlie and Beck Marko. They have each raised over $300 this year. Way to go!!!! And kudos to those in the preparation stage who will give them a run for their money

Connecting with personal stories is vital to remaining motivated to fundraise. It all began with sweet Allie Scott and Sam Eisenburg, yet it did not stop there. This past month, I was touched by two stories that have reminded me why our efforts to raise money and awareness for Light The Night and blood cancers is so very important.

In 2005, I attended our LTN Kick-Off and sat next to Anne, one our chapter’s fundraising coaches for TNT. From that first meeting, I knew she lived and breathed fundraising for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and her enthusiasm was infectious! This year, when I was asked to work alongside of Anne on our local Friends & Family Committee, I knew I couldn’t pass up the chance to learn from her.

Three weeks ago, I was shocked to hear that she was diagnosed with leukemia for the first time. Not that all of her volunteer work with the Society would have protected her from a leukemia diagnosis, but it was a reminder that none of us are immune. Anne was taken a few hours away to UCSF Cancer Center where she was treated with a very intensive chemotherapy protocol. Thankfully, her bone marrow biopsy showed minimal leukemia cells and hopefully her doctor will declare remission if her next biopsy continues on this trend.

I also heard from one of my very close friends from high school this month. His younger brother, Michael, was diagnosed with pediatric leukemia shortly after our high school graduation. I have thought of Michael many times during my fundraising events and LTN walks. After a bone marrow transplant from their youngest sister, Michael successfully went into remission. My friend thankfully confirmed that Michael currently has been disease-free for over ten years.

Research funding from the Society has contributed to many oncology research developments: from chemotherapy and leukemia treatments to platelet pherisis technology to bone marrow transplant procedures. Because of the cutting-edge, life saving research done over the past five decades, patients like Anne and Michael can have hope for a lasting cure.

As Friends of Heroes we have much to be proud of: we have raised an inspirational $959,000 toward blood cancer patient services and research! With your support, each of you makes an incredible impact on the lives that are being saved daily.

Please join us this year, whether you are new to Friends of Heroes or a member from the Allie’s Angels – Friends of Allie – Friends of Heroes team. Help us to make a difference. Help us to fund cures that will save lives. Register to be part of our amazing team of LIFE SAVERS and to be a huge force for good.

On behalf of Anne, Michael, their families and many others like theirs, THANK YOU for helping to find a cure.

By Jenn B., Co-Captain

How your kids can be involved?!?

Friends of Heroes has always been such a family oriented group. Many of us met online on our birth boards, others at play groups, or just word to mouth. Just looking at our Light the Night photo albums just shows that a major part of our teams are our kids!

It is so easy to let them get involved and make a HUGE difference.

Here are a few tips and idea to get your child involved. They will feel so great for helping out! Lets plant the seeds of giving and watch them grow.

Talk to your child, let them know why you are fundraising. Let them ask questions. A great movie to watch for explaining cancer to a young child is “Why Charlie Brown? Why?” Most Leukemia and Lymphoma Society offices will have a copy to borrow. Be sure to let them ask questions as well.

Let them come up with their own ideas! If is painting happy faces on rocks or planning a race, let them go for their dream. Just let them know that you are there to support them!

Tell them how great they are and what a big difference that this will make. I think that this is the part that is the most rewarding to my kids. They love to hear that they are helping!

Finally, reward them. You can take them out to ice cream, maybe even get them that toy that they have been wanting for so long, or print them a very nice certificate. But let them know that they did something so wonderful for others that it is there time to be honored.

Please be sure to share with us what your children are doing and take lots of pictures so that we can have some featured kid heroes!

Some fun ideas for your child’s fundraisers

• Lemonade stands,
• Kids crafts sale,
• Dance a thon,
• Walk or run a thon,
• Carnivals,
• Sell old toys,
• Skating party,
• Pennies for patients at their school (contact local LLS Chapter for more details)
• Selling candy bars

Submitted by Beck Marko

Team Courtney’s Angels is a new Friends of Heroes Affiliate Team this year and is captained by the mother-daughter team of Debbie and Ashley. They formed the team in memory of their daughter and sister Courtney. This month, Debbie has graciously taken time to share about her daughter’s battle and how Courtney faced life and “lived strong”.

Can you tell us a little bit about your daughter Courtney?
I know that everyone thinks that their child is amazing, and that is exactly how I think of Courtney. As a young child, Courtney was definitely a Mama’s girl, never wanting to be far from my side. She was the youngest of three children, the baby of the family. But, during her first bout with cancer at 13, she matured and grew into a strong, compassionate young girl. She had a zest for life and was a friend to everyone she met.

Court was a cheerleader all throughout her high school years. She loved to dance and be goofy. She was a girly-girl to the max, she loved rhinestones and blinged out everything she owned – but she also had a cowgirl side that loved fast horses and big trucks.

Courtney was a 6-foot tall, stunningly beautiful young woman with big dreams. She had the most incredible spirit and was never one for self-pity – never once asking “why me?” Courtney is the strongest person I know, she is my hero, my angel.

Can you share about Courtney’s diagnosis and her treatment?
Courtney was originally diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in September 2000 at the age of 13. It was just a few weeks after she began her freshman year in high school and our lives took a drastic change. We found ourselves thrust full force in the world of childhood cancer and hospital life.

Court went through 10 months of intense chemotherapy, followed by 2 ½ years of maintenance chemo. In December 2005 we excitedly celebrated her being “cured” – she had been in remission for 5 years and we thought she had won the battle.

So, needless to say we were stunned when just a few months later in May 2006, we learned that she had relapsed. The doctors first told us that they would be treating her with basically the same protocol, but they suggested that we have the family tested to see if any of us were a potential bone marrow match.

When we learned that Courtney’s older brother, Gabriel, was a perfect match, we felt that it was the answer to many prayers. The doctor’s left the final decision up to Court, but encouraged her to consider the transplant.

The treatment was much more difficult the second time around and Courtney experienced many complications. She developed a severe case of Tiflitis after her first chemotherapy treatment which resulted in a 36 day hospital stay during which she was not able to eat or drink anything by mouth in order to allow her stomach to heal.

The weeks following her transplant were really difficult, with more complications – she suffered a blood clot to her lung. But things finally began to turn for the better. We were just a few days away from being discharged from the hospital when Courtney suddenly developed a horrible infection, flesh-eating bacteria.

In a matter of a few hours, things took a drastic change. The doctors tried to save her by removing her leg, but the infection was too much for her compromised immune system and Courtney passed away just 1 week before her 20th birthday.

No words could ever express our sympathy for the loss of your daughter. Unfortunately, learning of stories such as the journey of your precious daughter is a prime example why events such as Light the Night are so important, to help aid in the funding for research. The monetary value of research is priceless when advancements in treatments can be offered to help save the lives of these children.

What are some of the lessons Courtney has taught you through her journey that you apply to your lives today?

As she fought her first battle, I saw that it was changing her and molding her into the person she would live to be – enjoying life to the fullest, laughing her infectious laugh, and touching people’s lives in such a special way. Courtney loved people and was so accepting of everyone. She made everyone she met feel like they were a true friend.

Just days after Courtney died; I received an email from a girl that Courtney knew. This girl was not very nice to Court in high school, but had been communicating with her over the Internet for a few weeks before Court passed away. She was having some minor medical problems of her own. Following is part of that email:

“I just wanted to let you know what an inspiration Court has been to me. I don’t know whether she was a gift sent to me from God, or just plain good luck, but she was my backbone, and my inspiration for the last few months. For her to be in so much more pain, and so much more traumatic problems than me, she was the stronger person, writing me emails telling me I would be okay, and everything would end up good. She told me that no one’s problems should be compared or measured… most importantly – she told me how God only gives people like us these kinds of situations because we are the strongest… and we are the ones who can go through it.”

That was the kind of person my daughter was, more concerned for others than she was for herself. Her story has touched the lives of people around the world, including some very famous people.

Because of a meeting that he had with Courtney, Derek Lowe (Dodger pitcher) has started D. Lowe’s Heroes, helping the kids being treated at Mattel’s Children’s Hospital at UCLA. Courtney’s wanted to become a Pediatric Hem/Onc nurse. She wanted to make hospital life better for the kids at UCLA and I will spend the rest of my life making her dream become a reality. We are in the process of starting a foundation “Courtney’s Angels” to support the fight for a cure.

Courtney left a beautiful imprint in the world with her selfless example. One that isn’t forgotten with her death.

Have you been involved with Light The Night in the past?
I had actually planned on participating last year, but Courtney was scheduled to be admitted to the hospital for her transplant the day of the walk. So, this year was the first time I had been to a Light the Night walk. What an incredible experience.

I was also able to experience a TNT marathon for the first time. Last December, Courtney’s brother Gabriel (her donor) ran the Honolulu marathon in honor of his sister and I was lucky enough to be able to meet him at the finish line. It was just 3 weeks after Courtney passed away.

What made you decide to become a part of FOH as an affiliate?
It’s kind of funny, but I was on MySpace and saw a bulletin from FOH. I went to the site and decided right then that I would try to contact you to become an affiliate. I wanted the money that Team Courtney’s Angels raised to have the biggest impact it could.

Well, just minutes later, I went on the website that I had set up to keep family and friends informed of Courtney’s progress (freewebs.com/courtneynicole) and there was a message from FOH in my guest book. I knew then that it was meant to be – Courtney was somehow telling me that I needed to join FOH.

Thank you for letting us honor Courtney as one of our team heroes. We are so glad you are part of FOH!

Please share a little bit about the planning leading up to the walk. What were your plans for your team fundraising this year?
Most of the fundraising was done online. Ashley, Court‘s older sister, posted a lot of bulletins on MySpace and I used the website that I had set up to keep family informed about Courtney’s. We didn’t know what to expect since this was our first year being involved. We set a team goal of $2,000 and were pleasantly surprised that we were able to surpass that goal. Next year we have plans to do more fundraising and will get started a little earlier.

Now for the evening of the walk itself…

How many team members did you have on the team Courtney’s Angels this year? Please share a brief description about your walk and how it went.

Team Courtney’s Angels walked in September. We had 38 walkers and our team raised $3,332.

The walk was incredible. It was very emotional – it was exactly one year from the date that Courtney was admitted for transplant, and the walk took place on the campus at UCLA (she was treated at the hospital at UCLA).

One of our walkers was a teenage girl who had been transplanted just a few weeks before Courtney and is doing well. Ashley and I proudly carried a “gold” balloon in honor of Court. I can’t wait for next year!

Is there anything else you would like to add?
November 14th will be the one-year anniversary of Courtney’s death – November 21st would be Courtney’s 21st birthday!

No family should have to endure the year that our family has endured, no family should have to watch someone they love suffer the way Courtney and other kids with cancer suffer, and no parent should have to bury their child.

I will do everything that I can to spread the word about FOH. I will do everything that I can to raise money to find a cure for a disease that is robbing families of their children and robbing children of their childhood.

Thank you, Debbie, for sharing Courtney’s story with us!

Courtney was an amazing fighter, helping others even when she was going through difficult treatment herself and making a positive difference to all she touched, in life and even after her death.

With the approach of Courtney’s birthday and the one-year anniversary of her heavenly birthday, we remember you and your family in our thoughts and prayers.

For more information, visit http://www.friendsofheroes.org or contact teamleaders@friendsofheroes.org

Please share a little bit about your precious son Jackson?

Jackson was born May 23, 1999 and was a healthy baby boy. He has always been a constant joy and was a very easy- going baby. We celebrated Jackson’s 8th birthday back in May and it’s hard to believe he is now a 3rd grader. In Jackson’s free time, he loves playing sports. His favorite is soccer. He also loves playing basketball and baseball. Jackson is one big sports fan! He just about loves any sport out there. He is a big ESPN fan.

Can you share about his diagnosis with cancer, his prognosis and how it has affected your family?

Jackson experienced a lot of joint and bone pain for about 3 months. It progressively had gotten worse and it had come to a point where he was not able to walk on his right leg. We had taken him to his pediatrician’s office on several occasions and when he was no longer able to walk it was very alarming to us. His pediatrician ordered a CBC for Jackson “to rule out leukemia” and unfortunately it was not ruled out.

The next morning was the scariest day of our lives. Our worst nightmare had come true. We were told that Jackson had leukemia and to get him to UCSF Children’s Hospital in San Francisco as soon as possible. Jackson was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia on November 22, 2004. Our lives were immediately changed. Jackson was admitted for 3 weeks and his chemotherapy began immediately. Jackson’s chemotherapy treatment will last approximately 3 ½ years. He is scheduled to go off treatment February 2008.

The last three years have been long and exhausting. But, we always try and make the best of our lives. We truly appreciate each moment we have together as a family and I never take for granted hearing, “I love you Mom,” or playing with my children.

Have you been involved with Light The Night in the past?

This will be our 4th year participating in Light the Night. My husband and I participated with Jackson in 2000, prior to his diagnosis. We also participated in 2005 and 2006. We are very excited to be involved again this year. It is such an amazing evening. We are so glad we are able to celebrate Jackson’s life along with other survivors and remember those lives that have been lost to blood cancers.

What made you decide to become a part of Friends of Heroes as an affiliate?

I really like the fact that we are working together with other affiliate teams to stop childhood cancers. In honor of raising $100,000 or more The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society have allowed FOH to name a research grant in support of raising awareness of pediatric cancer. For the last two years FOH has selected UCSF Children’s Hospital, Researcher Dr. Weimels as the grantee for a prestigious grant.

(For more information on Dr. Weimels, you can follow the link below for a letter where he talks about his cutting-edge research http://www.friendsofheroes.org/walkerresources/letter_DrWiemels.pdf )

We were grateful to have you as an affiliate in the 2006 season and are thrilled to have you team up with us again.

Please share a little bit your experience with the 2006 walk season and the planning leading up to the walk. Did you have any plans for your team fundraising last year?

The last two years we have not been able to focus on our fundraising like we are this year. Now that we are getting closer to Jackson going off treatment, we are trying to focus more energy towards Light the Night. We have doubled our fundraising goal this year and hope to surpass that. We have done some fun fundraising events, such as dine and donate nights at local restaurants, a fundraising bunco evening and also a kids’ night out fundraiser. We have been having a lot of fun!

Now for the evening of the walk itself…

What are your plans for your team leading up to the 2007 walks?

We are very excited about the walk this year. We have included a special boy who lost his battle to leukemia in May to our team. He fought a relatively short but very hard battle and he will forever be remembered as a true hero. We are proud to honor our friend Jacob Mihalca. We are focusing more on raising funds and awareness and are looking forward to raising more money.
Thank you for sharing Jackson’s story with us, we will continue to keep him in our thoughts and also will keep Jacob in our hearts during this year’s walks as well.

For more information, visit http://www.friendsofheroes.org or contact teamleaders@friendsofheroes.org

One of the sweet faces in our Friends of Heroes collage is that of 3-year-old Noelle Naylor. After the Wisconsin Angels reached out to the Naylors, her family joined Friends of Heroes as one of our original affiliate teams in 2005, just months after Noelle’s diagnosis. Noelle was a spunky, loving, and courageous young girl, daughter and sister, whose life was cut way too short.

Our deepest condolences to the Naylor family for their sudden and immense loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Noelle was an inspiration and true hero to all of us and her absence is felt – even for those of us who did not have the pleasure and privilege to meet her in person. She is forever in our hearts.

• $100 provides 7 patients access to an informational teleconference about their specific blood cancer disease.

• $150 provides 15 teachers with an educational Pediatric Instructional Manual to assist a child with cancer returning to school after treatment.
• $500 provides a patient with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma with Patient Aid to support their medical treatment and travel to medical appointments for one year.
• $250 provides a monthly Family Support Group Program for one year for 10 patients.
• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services.
• More than 617,000 Americans have leukemia, Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma or myeloma. Every five minutes, someone new is diagnosed with blood cancer. Every nine minutes, someone dies.
• Leukemia is the leading cause of disease-related death among children under age 15.
• Lymphomas are the most common blood cancers, and incidence increases with age.
• The survival rate for myeloma is only 30 percent. Incidence is twice as high among African Americans as for all other races.
• More than 75 percent of Society expenditures are used on mission-related activities.
• With more than 8,000 advocacy volunteers throughout the country, the Society’s voice is being heard by those responsible for legislation to fund blood cancer research and educational programs.

Source: lls.org

As parents, we go to great lengths to protect our children from harm – starting at the moment they’re born or even at the moment we have a positive pregnancy test. We buy baby gates and monitors. We watch the latest toy recalls. We teach our kids to not accept candy or rides from strangers and to “just say no”.

However, when a family hears the diagnosis that their child has cancer, it can be quite overwhelming, if not devastating.

Childhood Cancer Affects the Whole Family

“Childhood cancer is a family disease since it affects everyone in the family’s system… this includes families, school and friends, the total environment of the child,” says Nancy Cincotta¹, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, BCD and Psychosocial Director at Camp Sunshine [http://www.campsunshine.org].

Cincotta encourages families find a group as a way to cope and find support. “The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a tremendous resource for families on back to school initiatives, on information services for financial support.”

When we raise money for Light The Night, we help support families as they deal with first diagnosis and endure their cancer journey.

Through the Patient Services programs and resources such as patient education programs and the Information Resource Center, the Society made 4.2 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals in FY’06. The Family Support Groups and First Connection served nearly 16,000 people.

This support is free to families because of money donated through Light The Night and other Society programs.

Survivorship Issues

Currently, there are approximately 270,000 living survivors of their childhood cancer and their cancer treatment². This group continues to grow as advanced, less-toxic treatments are developed.

“Newer therapies are based on improved understanding of the potential treatment complications of those earlier therapies,” said Leslie L. Robison³, PhD, Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control at St. Jude, principal investigator of CCSS, and senior author of the study.

While hopeful, it’s expected that three-quarters of this group will develop a chronic health problem and 40 percent may experience a “serious, life-threatening, disabling, or fatal condition” within 30 years of the initial cancer diagnosis.

Until targeted-cell therapies advance and only the cancer cells are affected and not the normal tissues or more advanced treatments are developed, many survivors will continue to be afflicted with cognitive and late effects from radiation and chemotherapy.

For more on cancer survivorship and a continuing series on childhood cancer, visit http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page?item_id=74410.

Future Treatment Options and Prevention for Childhood Blood Cancer

Thirty years ago, a child’s cancer diagnosis most likely meant a death sentence. But, with years of research, a family can now get through cancer treatment with increased hopes for survival. A cure for blood cancers still has not been discovered, but the future holds hope for a breakthrough with continued funding and research.

For the past three years, Joseph Wiemels, PhD, has been the recipient of funding because Friends of Heroes and affiliates raised over $100,000 each year to achieve a grant-naming opportunity bestowed by the Society.

“Wiemels is acknowledged as a mainstream expert on the origins of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.”⁴

He led the research discovering that most dormant childhood leukemias begin before birth and he continues to research in hopes to identify the causes – dietary, environmental, or otherwise – that could result in the potentially harmful genetic mutation.

“Unraveling the causes and timing of the mutations that lead to leukemia, may allow us to predict and prevent this devastating disease,” said Wiemels⁵.

What can we do?

Once again in 2007, Friends of Heroes hopes to reach the $100,000 needed for the grant-naming opportunity so we can continue to support Dr. Wiemels’ research. We will also be supporting valuable Patient Services with the money we raise for Light The Night.

This September, help us honor Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Please join us as a donor, a walker or an affiliate team so we can continue to help pediatric cancer patients and their families. Your help makes a difference to improve the lives of patients and can fund the necessary research to find a CURE!

By National Team Co-Captain Jenn B.

Sources:

¹ http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/graphics/National/EI2530DFinalTranscription.pdf

² http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2800901

³ http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/71319.cfm

⁴ http://pub.ucsf.edu/today/cache/feature/200703082.html

⁵ http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/health_library/news/2002/05/9747.html

I love autumn. The summer temps finally start to cool and the leaves start to change to beautiful hues of orange, red, yellow and brown. September signifies back-to-school and back to living on a schedule.

In the last few years, September has taken on new meaning for me. It is Childhood Cancer Awareness month and I reflect back to September ’04 when I was deeply moved by Allie Scott’s life and passing – her family was living my worst imaginable nightmare.

I knew that I wanted to do something to help end the horror of childhood cancer. Each September means my Light The Night walk is around the corner and I have an opportunity to make a difference.

You can too.

On September 7^th, the first Light The Night walks will commence. Are you ready? Have you registered to join us and make a difference? It’s not too late and it’s very simple.

• Go to http://teams.lightthenight.org/friendsofheroes to search and join a walk.
• Register to receive your active.com account and you can start fundraising online!

September is also Friends of Heroes Awareness Event month. Have you held an awareness event or considered setting one up? Because there is no cure for blood cancers, getting the word out is vital. Through awareness events, we can share why a cure is so important and how Friends of Heroes can make an impact with the grant naming opportunity. (See the Childhood Cancer article to see how it will make a difference!)

Last Thursday, I held an awareness booth and had an amazing night. My co-captain’s daughter raised $13 in paper balloon sales and the contacts we made were priceless. Many people don’t realize that children can and DO get cancer. A 3^rd grade girl who was selling bracelets gave us some of her profits because she wanted to make a difference. A young boy spotted us and introduced his mom, a cancer survivor. She came up to thank us, grateful that she could continue being a wife and mother due to recent research.

This reinforced to me why Friends of Heroes is so important. The money raised through fundraisers like Light The Night has advanced research and developed therapies which SAVES LIVES. It’s incredibly motivating to know that what we do as Friends of Heroes can and will make a difference!

Still not convinced to join this year?

We really need you. Our walkers and team captains are the heart and soul of our team. We had changes this year with a new team name and new logo, a new website and a new forum, but our mission and purpose remain the same. Childhood cancer has not gone away. We need you to help us make a difference and to help us reach the $100,000 to achieve the grant naming. I can’t promise you prizes or that big donations will come your way, but you’ll know you were part of an amazing team that is actively making a difference in the war on cancer. Please join the Friends of Heroes team!

By National Team Co-Captain Jenn B.

p.s. There is still time to fundraise! It’s easy to forward your active.com site or add it to your email signature. Check out the Friends of Heroes Point Challenge and select a few things you can do to raise money and earn points for a prize. Every donation counts whether it is $1, $10, or $100!

p.s.s. We’d love to have you as a team captain! If you’re interested, email Lynette at tcrelations@friendsofheroes.org with your name and walk location for more information.

Walk for ‘heroes’ fighting leukemia

By Loni Nannini

Special to the Arizona Daily Star

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.26.2007

There is life after leukemia, and Renee Rubio and the Friends of Heroes are taking steps to ensure it by raising funds through the Light the Night Walk for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Rubio is the captain of the Tucson contingent of Friends of Heroes, the largest national Friends and Family Light the Night team in the history of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Last year, the local team raised more than $19,000 to fund pediatric blood cancer research and patient services; the national team had raised almost $850,000 as of January. Rubio said the endeavor is a labor of love for many of those involved.

“We consider the kids that are going through this heroes. It’s amazing how resilient they are,” said Rubio, who has experienced the reality of leukemia firsthand with her grandson, Gavin Kelley. Gavin, 5, is a survivor of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is undergoing chemotherapy in Jacksonville, Fla.

Read more at:
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/197670.php

Article quoted from http://www.azstarnet.com

Can you share a little bit about your Affiliate team Yokayo Bio-Fuels?

Yokayo Biofuels is a small company located in Ukiah, California. We make and sell biodiesel, which is made from used restaurant oil and grease. You can read more about us at www.ybiofuels.org.

Have you been involved with Light The Night in the past? Had your company?

I have been for the last three years, through the various incarnations of Friends of Heroes, (Allie’s Angels, Friends of Allie). The first year, I was unable to travel to the actual event, as I’d had a c-section and a difficult recovery not too long before. I had a balloon sent to me by the local office, and I walked down the main street in my town with my two children in their stroller. The next two years, I was the team captain of a really small team, mostly of my family and me. I have raised almost $2000.00 for the LLS in those three years.

The company I work for has never participated before, but oddly enough, there is a more personal connection. My boss’s sister works on the pediatric cancer ward at UCSF, and is one of the nurses for our honored child, Jackson.

What made you decide to become apart of FOH as an affiliate?

The company I work for is very environmentally conscious, and as cancer is often caused by exposure to chemicals, they felt right this was a good cause for them to be involved with.

How did you go about approaching your company to see if they might be interested in forming a Light the Night Team?

I had to do a presentation at one of our general employee meetings, which I messed up completely. I started crying five lines into my speech. I had pictures of Allie and the other child I walk in memory of, Cole Regan, taped to the wall behind me, and I couldn’t even get through it. I had to have my boss take over for me. Needless to say, it must have been a good speech, because everyone agreed to participate in some way.

Do you have any advice for someone that is thinking of approaching their own place of employment about forming a company affiliate team?

The worst thing your company can say is no, and you won’t know if you don’t ask.

Do you think working as a LTN team has had any effect in your actual office environment?

No, it’s a pretty tight knit group of individuals already.

What are your team goals for this year?

We have a combined goal of 1000.00 between the Yokayo Team and the Friends of Heroes team.

How is your team organizing or planning for the walk? Does your team have any fundraisers or events planned leading up to the walk?

The weekend of August 18th and 19th, there is a huge festival that we are involved with called SolFest, and we are going to have a booth there, and be asking for donations from people that stop by our booth. It usually draws in about 10000 people in two days, so I hope that we can earn a lot of money that way.

We are also going to raffle off 50 gallons of fuel to our local customers, and sell the tickets for 10.00 dollars a piece, with a limit of 200 tickets. I have a feeling that will sell out rather quickly, because, honestly, who doesn’t want a chance to win free fuel? We are also just going to ask for donations from our customers, either when they walk in the office or by letter to the ones that we deliver to.

You shared with us this is the first year for your affiliate team, however you have walked for FOH in previous walks, can you share a little bit about your LTN walk last year?

Last year our walk was the last Friday in September, and it was a beautiful night. My husband and my children were my teammates, and we were “honorary” members of another affiliate team, Jackson’s A.L.L. Stars. Every year when I have seen Jackson at LTN, I have such a hard time believing he has cancer; he is so healthy and vibrant. Seeing that makes me want to continue the fundraising effort, because every child should be able to win the fight against this awful disease just like Jackson.

I know that no matter how many times I participate in Light the Night, I will always be in awe of how beautiful the balloons are when they are lit up. I just wish that their beauty could be used to signify some other purpose.

Anything else you would like to share?

I am so proud of this remarkable group of people, and proud to be a part of it! I know in my heart that we will reach our 1 MILLION DOLLAR GOAL!

Jenny Scott, if you are reading this, thank you so much for having the bravery to share Allie’s story with the world, and for opening all of our eyes to the world of pediatric cancer. The people that have opened their hearts and given their time to support this cause have renewed my faith in humanity as a whole. Allie’s story was just the beginning of something so much bigger, and we should all be so very proud of all that we have accomplished as a result of her life. I know my life is forever changed, and I am grateful for it.

Each year, approximately, 12,100 children are diagnosed with cancer in the United States. Treatments include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and stem cell transplantation. Even after the initial treatment, child patients may face many years of illness, treatment, stress and post-treatment adjustments.

Returning to school can offer a feel of normalcy for families after treatment.

In an effort to support families and ease the transition from active treatment to daily life for pediatric cancer patients, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Lance Armstrong Foundation developed a program to increase communication among healthcare professionals, parents, patients and school officials (campus nurses, counselors, teachers, and administrators).

The objectives of the program are to educate attendees and enable them to:

• Describe common childhood cancers and treatments
• Identify challenges cancer survivors face upon returning to school and throughout their time in school and college
• Understand laws that protect childhood cancer survivors’ rights
• Have strategies to help meet the students’ short- and long-term educational needs
• Access resources that support schools and families including those from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Lance Armstrong Foundation

Teachers can learn what accommodations might be needed for their returning cancer student and can help classmates understand what the student is going through. Because of their daily contact with the student, teachers also play a key role if any health concerns should arise in the classroom.

Cancer survivorship is a lifelong journey, and school reentry is a major milestone in that journey.

For more on the Trish Green Back To School Program, visit your local Society chapter for live educational programs and materials, videos and other printed resources. Online program information at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Website.

Often times, especially this time of year, I pay close attention to the amount of time and energy I spend on Friends of Heroes. I spend many hours a week on my local and national duties and sometimes I get lost in the tasks and have to remind myself of the importance of our mission, which is the children and their families.

Have you ever wondered what these families think about you as a volunteer with Friends of Heroes? How they feel about the time you put into raising money and awareness? These families, that inspired you, who have been through YOUR worst nightmare, ever wonder what they would say to you, given the chance?

Me, too.

So I asked them. I spoke with both Desiree Nichols, whose daughter Sammy battled leukemia and who is in now in remission. I also spoke to Melissa Rasmussen, whose two year old son, Donovan passed away in January of this year. I don’t think any one of us will ever forget his beautiful big eyes.

What would Melissa say to you, if given the chance? “Besides Thank you, I hope that volunteers everywhere and especially for LLS know that by giving a little can CHANGE A LOT. Volunteers everywhere have an enormous impact on how parents like myself feel when we look to the sky to our sweet angels and know that there are PEOPLE THAT REALLY DO CARE!!! During every treatment and every procedure I felt so helpless and alone and people that made the most difference in my life were people I didn’t know personally but were volunteers at hospitals and at every event FOR LLS. To date I have been apart of 7 different events and I have never felt more at home or comfortable during every event and every training. I am going to be apart of LLS in some capacity for as long as I can and perhaps a volunteer!”

Desiree Nichols, who is an affiliate team with FOH says that “being part of Friends of Heroes, raising funds and awareness for LLS is a great satisfaction. You meet so many wonderful families, caring people, and make a HUGE difference as one team. You have an awesome team behind you encouraging you, supporting you, and helping you the whole way! I’d like to stress to each and every walker to please remember this can happen to your child, niece, nephew, grandchild, etc. Today is the day to make a difference. Today is almost gone, and tomorrow may never come!”

Desiree continues, “Friends of Heroes means a great deal to the Nichols family. They have pretty much been there from the beginning of our journey through childhood cancer. We have met a lot of very special women and other cancer families that helped us emotionally in our time of need. Through endless guestbook signings, chatting with me when things were tough or celebrating joyous moments, and even helping me fundraise for the society countless times. Friends of Heroes will always have a special place in my heart. As long as I am alive I will always help them raise funds for LLS in hopes one day no child will have to endure what my daughter went through!”

When I read Desiree’s thoughts on Friends of Heroes, I can’t help but feel a tremendous sense of pride in that she feels exactly what we have always strived for. Mission successful for the Nichols Family. Mission continues for countless other families in their time of need.

Don’t forget the power of Friends of Heroes. The power of you.

In closing, you must know, whether you raise $10 or $100 the gratitude these families feel toward you and our entire national team, Melissa sums it up for me “I think the most striking emotion that I get when I see people come out and volunteer their own time is enormous “GRATITUDE”, gratitude that someone somewhere has touched their lives and that they are willing to go out and be amongst those that are still surviving and yet also opening their hearts to those remembering their angels that have been taken by such a devastating CANCER.”

-written by National Co-Captain Beth F.

WDYDWYD?

Do you know the first basic key to fundraising success? I bet you’re aching to know so you can implement it at your next awareness or fundraising event or add it to your active.com page!

If I told you the answer, would you commit it to memory and never forget it? Would you share this wisdom with a friend or neighbor? Are you ready for the answer?

WHY???

Really, that’s the answer. WHY do you do what you do (or WDYDWYD)? The foundation of being a successful fundraiser is knowing why we’re raising money.

As Friends of Heroes, we have a Mission Statement (to the left) that establishes our purpose and reason for joining together. It sounds great and looks good on paper but, in your heart, why are you a part of Friends of Heroes?

Like many of you, I was deeply touched by Allie Scott’s story three summers ago. I’ve lost a family member to leukemia and have a friend with myeloma. Along my journey with FOH, I’ve met countless others who have been affected in some way. I carry these stories with me as inspiration to raise awareness, to find a cure and make a difference. Without these connections, it would be easy for me to lose interest in fundraising and to take our Mission Statement for granted.

If you’ve lost your passion, take time to reflect and to rekindle your fire. Fundraisers who believe in the cause with a passion in their hearts can convey the need for a cure with purpose and persuasion.

Basic #1: What is your personal motivation? Why is Friends of Heroes and Light The Night important to you? Be sure to check out our WYDWYD Project.

What is holding you back?

The second basic key to fundraising success is to address your obstacles.

Is it a lack of time? We make time for the things that are important to us and find ways to get them done. Start early on your fundraising or make a plan and pace yourself to reach your fundraising goals before your walk.

Lack of ideas? This is where teamwork comes into play – we share ideas and resources! The team message board [http://friendsofheroes.proboards80.com] is the perfect place to bounce ideas off of other walkers and find inspiration and support. The monthly newsletter and website [http://www.friendsofheroes.org] also offer ideas and tools to help you.

Fear? Don’t be afraid to try something new or out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to send that second (or third) email blast to remind people about Light The Night. Go for it and see what opportunities open for you!

Complacency? This is only a state of mind. See Basic #1 above and search your heart for the answer. Reread a Caringbridge site that moves you. Surround yourself with people who inspire you and let their energy ignite your passion.

No local walkers? Work on small scale fundraisers like a yard sale or recycling ink jets for cash/LTN credits. Donate the proceeds from a Tupperware party (or something your friends will like). Start networking! This is a valuable personal skill to develop. The more people you talk to and meet, the greater chance you might find a new walker or LTN donor.

Let me tell you a little secret: I’m not a great fundraiser. My first LTN I raised $110. The second year I raised $100 and recruited people who raised over $300. Last year, I went after a corporate sponsor and our family raised $600.

Learning to raise money has been a growing process for me; I’ve had to work at it. At points along the journey, I have dealt with each of the issues above. Instead of giving up, I turned it into a personal challenge and focused my thoughts on the kids and families who will benefit from the patient services and cancer research. Every dollar counts!

Basic #2: By identifying the areas that need work or stop you from succeeding, you can create a plan to move forward or seek the help you need. To find activities that will help you fundraise and build your team, see the FOH Team Point Challenge!

The Power of One

One blue-eyed baby ignited our fire. One person shared the need for a cure with family and friends and it spread like wildfire as local LTN teams were formed. One national team joined in spirit to raise a phenomenal amount of money and support families through kind words. One million dollars – our ongoing fundraising goal.

As one team of individuals connected by the internet, we’ve shared ideas and combined our talent and resources to create a powerful synergy. Despite being separated by miles, we’ve offered each other moral support and encouragement. Who knew that our passionate efforts would result in three pediatric research grants named in our honor!

Can you imagine how much we would grow if we each secured one corporate sponsor, recruited one affiliate team, held one awareness day, got one paper balloon merchant, etc.??? Our combined efforts would add up quickly!

Basic #3: Teamwork is essential to reach our goal! Use the team message board to get involved, encourage your teammates and help build our high-performing team. Visit our team forum at http://friendsofheroes.proboards80.com/

Basic #4: Don’t underestimate your abilities or reach in your local community even if you are a team of one. See article on Awareness Day Events and Team Tidbits section to read what others are doing.

The Million Dollar Plan

This year, we are closer than ever to reaching the Million Dollar Goal! The fact that we are even close to a million dollars is amazing! You should all be proud to be a part of this unprecedented effort to find a cure for blood cancers!

To reach our stretch goal, we need 90 teams to raise $2000 or more. Breaking it down further, teams can achieve $2000 with 8 walkers raising $250 each or 10 walkers raising $200 each. (See “10 Ways to Reach $250”.)

While this goal may sound challenging, we’ve achieved it in the last three years! As we go forward, this “formula” is the foundation for continuing to effectively raise our LTN monies and develop our team.

Basic #5: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” (Benjamin Franklin) By setting goals and planning to succeed, we will reach our goals!

THANK YOU for being part of Friends of Heroes. Each of you has a critical role as we continue to strive for our benchmarks. Your Team Leaders are here to help! Contact us anytime at teamleaders@friendsofheroes.org Together, we can do it!

- Written by Co-Captain Jenn B.

(Originally from the July Newsletter)

Often times, especially this time of year, I pay close attention to the amount of time and energy I spend on Friends of Heroes. I spend many hours a week on my local and national duties and sometimes I get lost in the tasks and have to remind myself of the importance of our mission, which is the children and their families.

Have you ever wondered what these families think about you as a volunteer with Friends of Heroes? How they feel about the time you put into raising money and awareness? These families, that inspired you, who have been through YOUR worst nightmare, ever wonder what they would say to you, given the chance?

Me, too.

So I asked them. I spoke with both Desiree Nichols, whose daughter Sammy battled leukemia and who is in now in remission. I also spoke to Melissa Rasmussen, whose two year old son, Donovan passed away in January of this year. I don’t think any one of us will ever forget his beautiful big eyes.

What would Melissa say to you, if given the chance? “Besides Thank you, I hope that volunteers everywhere and especially for LLS know that by giving a little can CHANGE A LOT. Volunteers everywhere have an enormous impact on how parents like myself feel when we look to the sky to our sweet angels and know that there are PEOPLE THAT REALLY DO CARE!!! During every treatment and every procedure I felt so helpless and alone and people that made the most difference in my life were people I didn’t know personally but were volunteers at hospitals and at every event FOR LLS. To date I have been apart of 7 different events and I have never felt more at home or comfortable during every event and every training. I am going to be apart of LLS in some capacity for as long as I can and perhaps a volunteer!”

Desiree Nichols, who is an affiliate team with FOH says that “being part of Friends of Heroes, raising funds and awareness for LLS is a great satisfaction. You meet so many wonderful families, caring people, and make a HUGE difference as one team. You have an awesome team behind you encouraging you, supporting you, and helping you the whole way! I’d like to stress to each and every walker to please remember this can happen to your child, niece, nephew, grandchild, etc. Today is the day to make a difference. Today is almost gone, and tomorrow may never come!”

Desiree continues, “Friends of Heroes means a great deal to the Nichols family. They have pretty much been there from the beginning of our journey through childhood cancer. We have met a lot of very special women and other cancer families that helped us emotionally in our time of need. Through endless guestbook signings, chatting with me when things were tough or celebrating joyous moments, and even helping me fundraise for the society countless times. Friends of Heroes will always have a special place in my heart. As long as I am alive I will always help them raise funds for LLS in hopes one day no child will have to endure what my daughter went through!”

When I read Desiree’s thoughts on Friends of Heroes, I can’t help but feel a tremendous sense of pride in that she feels exactly what we have always strived for. Mission successful for the Nichols Family. Mission continues for countless other families in their time of need.

Don’t forget the power of Friends of Heroes. The power of you.

In closing, you must know, whether you raise $10 or $100 the gratitude these families feel toward you and our entire national team, Melissa sums it up for me “I think the most striking emotion that I get when I see people come out and volunteer their own time is enormous “GRATITUDE”, gratitude that someone somewhere has touched their lives and that they are willing to go out and be amongst those that are still surviving and yet also opening their hearts to those remembering their angels that have been taken by such a devastating CANCER.”

-written by National Co-Captain Beth F.