Facing COVID-19 is terrifying for cancer patients. I would certainly feel that way if I was fighting my lymphoma diagnosis right now. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is responding to coronavirus with life-saving support resources that include the new COVID-19 Financial Relief Program for eligible patients. This year it's more important than ever to support their work. That's why I'll participate in Light The Night Manhattan on Thursday, October 22, and I'm asking for your help.  

I've been thinking of how I would cope if I was going through chemo during this pandemic. Five days of getting myself to the infusion center at NYU Langone, trying to stay away from people because the treatment I was getting to save my life was compromising my immune system. One extra day to go in for the drug I needed to help my body produce a minimal number of white blood cells to help me fight off at least some infections. At the same time, I would have to figure out what to do about my finances as work dried up and the economy ground to a halt. I would feel isolated because I wouldn't be able to have the in-person support of my friends and family.

Without LLS, I may not have survived. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Event funded one of the chemotherapy drugs that I received, Rituxan(Rituximab), to treat my diagnosis of Large B Cell Lymphoma, In July 2013. After 18 weeks of chemotherapy, I've been in remission for six years!  

I realize that it's a difficult time to ask you to give, but if you can, please donate, no matter how small the amount, and you'll help save lives like mine. Bookmark this page, so you can visit it often and track my progress, and also check out my blog at joeslymphoma.com. Together, we can save lives and help blood cancer patients get through this incredibly challenging time. Thanks for your ongoing generous support, and for bringing us all closer to living in a world without blood cancers!

Portrait: Mikiodo

(Please scroll down for more.)

Here I am at My first Light The Night Walk in 2013, with my teammate, Sue. I was still in treatment.

LTN | RECRUITMENT VIDEO 2014 from Flicker Flacker on Vimeo.

LTN | JOE'S STORY 2014 from Flicker Flacker on Vimeo.

That year, LLS asked me to represent patients and survivors in these two videos to promote Light The Night Walk 2014. They shot footage of me during the 2013 walk, and also in my Brooklyn apartment. 

After 18 weeks of chemotherapy, I entered remission, which I'm happy to say continues. I had an easy time with treatment and even took the subway between my home in Brooklyn and the hospital in Manhattan. I made this video that shows my experience in hopes that it would help other patients facing chemo feel less anxious about it.

My team, Joe's Adventurers, photographed at the kickoff party for the 2015 Manhattan Light the Night Walk.

Light The Night Manhattan 2015, was rainy, but that didn't stop my teammates and me from walking. Since our first walk in 2013, thanks to our generous donors, we have raised over $20,000 for blood cancer treatments! 

In 2016, LLS asked me to share my story at their Light the Night kickoff event for Barclays at their Manhattan headquarters.