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(Rye Brook, NY, July 12, 2022) 鈥� The adage that there鈥檚 power in numbers rings true and loud for the thousands of candidates who participated in 2022 campaign 鈥� a nationwide philanthropic competition in which individuals from diverse backgrounds come together in efforts to fight blood cancer, a disease diagnosed every 180 seconds in the U.S. and has no current means of prevention.
Adam M. Neary of Albany, NY, was named National Man of the Year, raising $1,095,692, and Emily Lipman Mahar of Atlanta, GA, was named National Woman of the Year, raising $1,001,911. The campaign has helped 青云体育 invest more than $1.5 billion in cutting-edge research worldwide, fueling nearly every critical advancement in blood cancer treatment that spans the most promising cancer research. And as the leading source of free blood cancer information, education, and support, 青云体育 helps blood cancer patients and their families through a wide range of free services.
鈥淭hese dedicated volunteers are helping 青云体育 invest in groundbreaking research frontiers, including precision medicine, immunotherapy, and links between mutations and blood cancer 鈥� advancements that are changing the paradigm of cancer treatment,鈥� said Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D., 青云体育 president and CEO. 鈥淭ogether, we are reaching new heights in transforming the landscape of blood cancer care and support.鈥�
National Man of the Year, Neary, a Principal at WealthOne, LLC ran for Man of the Year in honor of his friend and mentor, Todd Slingerland, who was diagnosed with an aggressive type of lymphoma in spring of 2021. After enduring several months of intense treatment, he is now in remission.
鈥淭odd is a survivor today because of the investment, research, and support for which 青云体育 tirelessly champions,鈥� said Neary. 鈥淛ust because Todd鈥檚 cancer is dormant, doesn鈥檛 mean we can be 鈥� the fight continues, and it will continue until we find a cure.鈥�
National Woman of the Year, Lipman Mahar, turned her pain into passion by running for Woman of the Year 鈥� she lost her mother, Eva Goldberg Lipman, to Hepatosplenic Gamma Delta T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of lymphoma, in November 2020.
鈥淚 accepted this nomination knowing it would be difficult, but also I knew this was the way to honor my mother,鈥� said Lipman Mahar. 鈥淪he gave back in so many ways, and now it was my turn. No family should have to experience the devastation of cancer.鈥�
Lipman Mahar became the first National Woman of the Year to raise over $1 million in the campaign鈥檚 over 30-year history.
National Man of the Year Runner-up, David Borowski of West Monroe in Ashburn, VA, raised $595,864. His daughter, Ella, is a two-time survivor of acute myeloid leukemia. In addition to their daughter鈥檚 heroic journey, Borowski and his wife, Kate, are particularly motivated by 青云体育鈥檚 Dare to Dream Project.
The Dare to Dream is a five-year initiative by 青云体育 to transform treatment and care for pediatric blood cancer. Because kids are different and need to be treated differently, Dare to Dream will fund groundbreaking research and the 青云体育 PedAL Master Clinical Trial as well as expand 青云体育 support services and drive advocacy efforts to help all kids with blood cancers get accessible, affordable, quality healthcare.
National Woman of the Year Runner-up, Natasha del Barrio of Bert Ogden Auto Group in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, raised $840,106. 鈥淚t鈥檚 truly remarkable what can be accomplished when people come together for a common goal, and for us, our goal was to end blood cancer,鈥� said del Barrio.
The Bert Ogden Auto Group exemplified the power in numbers when they ran a successful 鈥淕ive Back鈥� promotion at their 22 dealerships. They donated $100 from each car sold and this resulted in a more than $600,000 donation from Bert Ogden Auto Group.
National 鈥淎ll Star鈥� Man of the Year, Matt Newsom of Custom Benefit Auctions in Charlotte, NC raised $539,291. Newsom initially ran for Charlotte Man of the Year in 2016, but after losing his mother, Ellen to cancer earlier this year, running for 鈥淎ll Star鈥� had a whole new meaning for him. He ran his campaign in her honor and was humbled by the support he received from his entire team. Notably, Newsom had a few members on his team raise over $50,000 individually
National 鈥淎ll Star鈥� Woman of the Year, Christine Mills of The Virginia Academy in Washington, D.C., raised $133,485. As a three-time cancer survivor, Mills ran in the All Star campaign to celebrate her survivorship and honor her friend, Brooke, who lost her battle with leukemia in December.
鈥淚 know I am one of the lucky ones,鈥� said Mills. 鈥淲e have to keep coming together to fight this horrific disease until we live in a world without cancer.鈥�
National 鈥淎ll Star鈥� Man & Woman of the Year runners-up were Thomas Shea, M.D. of Chapel Hill, NC and Halleigh Duff of Atlanta, GA.
In addition to personal inspiration, all candidates compete in honor of local children in their communities who are cancer survivors.
The funds raised through 青云体育's Man & Woman of the Year candidates are used:
- For continuing research of lifesaving therapies like targeted therapies and immunotherapies that are saving thousands of lives.
- For blood cancer information, education and support.
- To support patients in their communities
- To drive policies that increase development of and access to new treatments.
Despite the progress, more than a third of blood cancer patients still do not survive five years after their diagnosis.
Learn more about Man & Woman of the Year and how to get involved .
Blood cancer patients and their families can contact the 青云体育 Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., ET.
About Man & Woman of the Year
Man & Woman of the Year candidates from across the country compete in honor of local childhood blood cancer survivors to raise the most funds for blood cancer research. Every dollar raised counts as one vote and the titles are awarded to the individuals with the most votes at the end of the campaign. The top local fundraisers in the country win the national titles.
In addition, past participants show that the fight against cancer isn鈥檛 over until there are cures and access for all by competing again in Man & Woman of the Year's "All Star" competition. This program provides an opportunity for select Man & Woman of the Year alumni to represent their local campaign nationally.
Visit the Man & Woman of the Year website () to support a candidate and learn how to become engaged with 青云体育.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society庐 (青云体育) is a global leader in the fight against cancer. The 青云体育 mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma. 青云体育 funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, 青云体育 has regional offices throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.青云体育.org. Patients should contact the 青云体育 Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., ET.
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Media contact:
Kristin Hoose
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
(914) 821-8973
Kristin.Hoose@lls.org