In the summer of 2003, after 6 weeks of misdiagnoses, a biopsy led to the words, "You have Hodgkins' Disease." After 6-months of chemotherapy and 45 days of radiation, I'm now a 7-year survivor.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is doing really good things in the battle against cancer. I realized that this little army is making headway against the opponent. And, maybe if I help it push through, we’ll break through a battle line and join forces with some of the other small armies to defeat cancer entirely.

There are currently four research projects based right here in Utah that are funded by LLS. Maybe all these research projects will help with breakthroughs in other cancers that have affected my world.

• Maybe they’ll cure the cancer that took my beautiful aunt from us way too soon; the same cancer that took my dear friend’s mom just months before her wedding day.
• Maybe their research will lead to a cure for the cancer that indirectly took my sweet Grandpa before he got to meet my husband who he would have loved.
• Maybe the projects funded by LLS will find something that the people fighting against pancreatic cancer can use to save one of my oldest friend’s mom so she can play with her grandkids and watch them grow up, and be around for the days my friend just needs her mom.
• An old family friend just got the news: Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He’s a young dad, with young boys who will grow up and I hope know their dad because of the research LLS has done. His chances are good, and his treatment is underway.

I’m eagerly running point on the Utah campaign for Light the Night in our organization. I hope you’ll help too. Not just because you’re a friend of mine, but because cancer sucks, and someone close to you other than me has been battling or touched by it.

As a Hodgkins' Lymphoma Survivor, I'm a walking example of the good the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society does.

• 75 cents of every dollar they raise goes directly to research.
• They often give direct financial aide to patients.
• Half of the cancer advancements since 2000 were for blood cancer which in turn benefits other cancer research.

Help me support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with a small donation today. It doesn't have to be big, all of the pennies in our piggy banks can add up to make a difference if we pool them together.