My no Chemo Christmas this year, family and friends, sense of humor, ability to raise money, and cancer research.

As so many of you know I was diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia in 2006. The cancer came back again and last year at this time and I was barely getting to work. Chemo and a crazy protocol of a drug called Rituximab for two months this summer made me good as new. I thank the men and woman in white lab coats for that and on their behalf I am writing you. Some of you have given very generously already and I apologize for reaching out again but I have to.

I turned 50 this year and for the Light the Night campaign benefitting the Leukemia Lymphoma society, I raised 40k. I want to make it 50K by December 15. The LLS, of which I am a board member, has been so gracious in helping me throughout my illness and educating me about where funds go. If I hit 50K I will have the honor of having my name linked to a leukemia portfolio. All I want for Christmas is for no one to have to suffer from this awful disease again!

50 is nifty as they say, so consider a generous donation:

Thank you all and have a great Holiday!

Welcome to my Light The Night Walk homepage.

Light The Night Walk is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's annual fundraising walk to pay tribute and bring hope to people battling cancer. Hundreds of thousands of participants raise funds for lifesaving research and patient services.

For more than 60 years, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has been solely focused on people with blood cancers. Presently, we have more than $250 million committed to research across the United States and in ten other countries. Every dollar is provided by concerned donors. We invest in the best, outcome based science:

• Anywhere, with no geographic or institutional boundaries
• Without profit incentive
• To meet unmet Medicare needs of people with blood cancers

And LLS funded advances are helping patients beyond those for whom they were originally developed, including people with solid tumors and auto-immune diseases. In the past decade, nearly 50% (19 out of 39) of the cancer drugs approved by the FDA were approved as treatments for blood cancer patients. Twelve are already approved for people beyond those for whom they were first developed. With your help, we are saving 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.
• 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.

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