Welcome to the Friends of Heroes National team website and our Blogging for Blood Cancer Event!!!!!!

Make sure to check back each day for a new post and a new prize to win. Today, you have a chance to win a $25 Starbucks Gift Card. Check at the end of this post to find out how you can win.

Did you know that:

• An estimated 138,530 people in the United States will be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma in 2008.
• Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20.
• In 2008, about 497 children under 15 are expected to die from leukemia.

The Friends of Heroes National team walks yearly in the Light the Night Walks to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), whose mission is to raise awareness and funds to cure leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. This past year, LLS has invested $66.5 million in support of more than 400 researchers and projects in 15 countries on five continents.

Friends of Heroes was formed because of the battle of one brave little baby girl named Allie Scott. Allie was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) at only 5 months of age. Sadly, Allie lost her battle to AML on September 13, 2004 — 4 days shy of turning 9 months. She never walked. She never talked. She never had a birthday party. Yet Allie is still here. She is with thousands of us in spirit every day. She reminds us daily of the value of life. She reminds us to cherish our time with our children. She reminds us of the profound difference a single life can make in this world. She touched people’s hearts and inspired their passion to make a difference. In 2007, the team expanded to honor all pediatric blood cancer patients and their families. In less than four years, the team has raised over $960,000 for the Society, with a 2008 goal of breaking the $1 Million mark, and naming a pediatric blood cancer research grant in honor of the children battling this horrible disease.

Here is the good news: the leukemia death rate for children from 0 to 14 years in the United States has declined about 67 percent over the past three decades. Leukemia five-year survival rates have gone from only 14% in 1960 to 51%, and overall blood cancer five-year survival rates have gone from 24% to almost 60%. Research is the key.

Although research is responsible for increasing survival rates for these diseases, the battle is far from over. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is on the forefront of this life-changing research. LLS has invested more than $600 million in research for advancing the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of these diseases. They have established SCOR teams that include some of the brightest medical researchers in the field of blood cancers – specialists in genetics, cell biology, virology, immunology and other areas. Their work is not finished until a cure is found for this devastating disease.

LLS’ goals continue to increase as they plan for 2008-2011. LLS plans to accelerate the development of new therapies, increase participation in blood cancer clinical trials, provide navigation assistance to patients at all points in their cancer journeys, and make services and information available to a larger percentage of patients within 30 days of diagnosis.

However, LLS needs our help! We may not be researchers or doctors, but here are some things we can do to help further this critical mission:

• Raise awareness for the importance of LLS and their mission through events like this.
• Raise funds personally through events like Light the Night Walks
• Form a walk team at a Light the Night Walks to involve friends, co-workers and family.

Through advocacy to help change a range of public policies that will enhance the search for cures and improve the quality of education, access and treatment of blood cancer patients:

ENTER TO WIN:

For a chance to win a $25 Starbucks Gift Card, just leave a comment with the amount of money LLS has invested in research for finding a cure this past year by MIDNIGHT PST today. [Hint: You will find the answer is in this post. Wink, wink.] You’ll also be entered for our grand prize to be drawn Monday for a $900 Timberland and Lacoste product assortment, courtesy of Samsonite. (The winner will be announced in tomorrow’s post. Comments are being moderated and will be approved later tonight when the winner is selected.)

Make sure to stop back all week for more information and even more chances to win. Here’s a preview of what you’ll have a chance to win:

• Monday 8/11: $25 Starbucks Gift Card
• Tuesday 8/12: $30 gift certificate to The Blue Top Hat plus a cookie card and cookies from the Greeting Cookie
• Wednesday 8/13: Beautiful Handmade Soap from Tasha, and 5 pairs of assorted sterling silver earrings (value =$25) from Designing-Diva
• Thursday 8/14: $50 gift certificate to Susan Murphy, Inc.
• Friday 8/15: 5 sets of vinyls wall decals (value=$48.00) courtesy of Stakersensations
• Saturday 8/16: Princess purse and ribbon tutu from Pretty Posh Princess
• Sunday 8/17: Fused glass pendant from Lucky Girl Trading Company & Tess shopping bag (value=$20.00) courtesey of Mimsi Bags
• Monday 8/18: It’s a Glam Thing beauty gift basket (value=$175) courtesy of It’s a Glam Thing
• Our Grand Prize 8/18: $900 Timberland and Lacoste product assortment, including duffle bags, totes, luggage tags, backpack, key ring, i-pod cases, and purse, courtesy of Samsonite. (This will be drawn from all the comments throughout the event)

Source: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Website and Facts 2008-2009 from LLS