I've decided that for my birthday, I want to help LLS find a cure for cancer. I'm lucky because my Daddy has a kind of cancer that is CURABLE...but I have friends whose parents have had cancers that weren't.

To read my family's story, please visit Team In-Depth's page. We'd love to have you join us in the Light the Night walk! Let's stick it to cancer!

Light The Night Walk is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's evening walk and fundraising event. It is the nation's night to pay tribute and bring hope to thousands of people battling blood cancers and to commemorate loved ones lost.

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. New targeted therapies that kill cancer cells without harming normal tissue are providing drugs and procedures that are improving quality of life.

In fact, in 2009 alone, LLS researchers were conducting more than 90 clinical trials, a critical step in the development of new treatments and cures that will help patients live better, longer lives.

* 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. We read one of these incredibly informative packets! With everything online that can send your head in so many awful places, it was a comfort to receive information from a trusted source.

* 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. I'm going to attend a group like this in June...where I'll learn more about the treatment of cancer, and talk about what it feels like that my dad's going through chemo.

* A donation of $100 helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures. We read an e-mail about one of the LLS-sponsored researchers. He made it to Time's list of 100 Most Influential People for his work on personalized vaccines as an alternative to general regimen chemotherapy.

* (side note: Why do we choose LLS vs. any other non-profit that fights against cancer? While we think that all of those organiazations are GREAT, we are thrilled that LLS research benefits patients with all types of cancer!)

Please make a donation to support my participation in the Light The Night Walk and help save lives like my Daddy's. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress, and thanks for your support!