2023 NATIONAL VISIONARY OF THE YEAR WINNER

My WHY for supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is deeply personal. I left my body when I received the phone call that I had cancer. At that moment, my life changed, and I knew I had to act quickly. 

I am all too aware of how devastating this disease can be and am grateful to have been given a second chance at life, but others are not so lucky. My cousin Michael was one of them, who succumbed to Leukemia at age 18 after a 5-year battle; my grandfather passed away from an aggressive form of cancer. I have countless relatives and friends who have lost their lives and families who are forever changed.

I’m doing this so that maybe I can spare other people the task of telling their young children that their mom has cancer. That when people hear the word “cancer” , it no longer has the same dreadful meaning. My hope is that we can live in a world where there is a CURE.

Now, it’s my deepest desire to give back and do my part in raising funds for research that could lead to treatments and cures for blood cancer and other forms of cancer. I believe strongly in the mission of LLS and want to make sure more people get the same opportunity that I did: to live a full life after being diagnosed with cancer. Every donation makes a difference in potentially saving lives from this deadly illness, so please join me in supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Together, we can make a positive impact on the fight against cancer. Thank you!