Leukemia Lymphoma Society
Who We Are:
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is the leading non-profit organization for blood cancer information, resources, and patient support. The organization became established in 1949 by Rudolph and Antoinette de Villiers in honor of their son who was diagnosed with the disease. LLS mission is to find a cure for blood cancer and provide their patients with the best medical care and resources available. Since 1949, LLS has invested over 79.8 million dollars towards blood cancer research and funds over 300 research programs and 127 academic grants. These programs and grants have discovered breakthrough therapies and treatments that have showed successful results towards specific types of cancers. In order to continue research and treatment …show more content…
development, LLS depends on charitable donations, sponsorships and fundraising campaigns to financial support current or future research. LLS is currently promoting two campaigns to help increase public awareness and donations. The campaign “Someday is Today,” emphasizes how important it is for LLS to continue their research and advocacy for blood cancer to find a cure today, rather than someday. The second campaign focuses on raising $400,000 during the month of September, Blood Cancer Awareness Month. To go with the 30 days of September, LLS will issue 30 “proof points” that explain the organization’s influence and progress towards finding a cure. LLS hopes both campaigns will help give the public a better understanding about the disease, and encourage donations to support their mission in creating a world without blood cancers.
Challenges
As a non-profit organization, LLS depends on contributions and corporate funding to support the financial costs of drug development, academic programs, and innovative treatments. LLS faces the daily challenges of identifying new methods or sources to fund related expenses and maintain financial sustainability of the organization. LLS focuses on specific areas within the medical field and their relationships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. LLS depends on these relationships for medical resources and their ability to help accelerate promising research into human applications. Even with the help of sponsors and corporation funding, LLS still needs more resources and contributions to financially assist in other areas like uninsured patients and increasing the availability of treatments and resources for patients in smaller communities. LLS also has to deal with the issue of competitive corporations or organizations referring to blood cancer as one of the “orphan diseases,” because of its limited potential of profit. LLS doesn’t focus on raising money for the organization’s needs, but to raise money to meet the medical need and serve the public interest. LLS uses 100% of their total expenses to fund programs and support services. Because of charitable donations, LLS has been able to improve the quality of life for blood cancer patients and get one step closer to their mission of finding a cure.
Statistical Information and Facts
Below are statistical facts and information from The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
• Nearly 50 percent of new cancer therapies between 2000 and 2014 were for blood cancer patients.
• LLS has quadrupled the five-year survival rate since the 1960s.
• LLS convinced legislation to pass oral parity in 33 states.
• Newly discovered treatments: chemotherapy, immunotherapy and stem cell transplantation.
• The most common types of blood cancers are leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
• LLS established several Research Grant Programs: Career Development Program, The Translational Research Program and The Screen to Lead.
• LLS eliminated Oregon’s two-year waiting period for stem cell transplants for uninsured blood cancer patients.
• LLS increased the child survival rate from three percent in 1964, to 90 percent today.
• LLS has 64 Chapters throughout the United States, and four in Canada.
• Approximately every three minutes one person in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer.
• Some of the most common symptoms of blood cancers are one or more enlarged lymph nodes, persistent flu-like symptoms such as fever, bone pain, excessive sweating, paleness, fatigue, or sudden weight …show more content…
loss.
• The first discovery therapy approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration were treatments for blood cancer patients.
• Team in Training has raised over $1.4 billion for blood cancer research.
• The survival rate for myeloma has more than tripled since the 1960s.
Research Produces Results
Through their research LLS has discovered lifesaving treatments and been able to reduce the amount of side effects with specific therapies.
LLS is dedicated to their patients and provides emotional support as well as financial help through their Co-Pay Assistance Program, which has provided over $200 million for blood cancer patients. Researchers have been able to understand the effects of transplantation treatment verse alternative treatment and any potential effects they could have on a patient’s survival rate. Researchers have also developed targeted therapies and immunotherapy drug kill specific cancer cells that attack the immune system. LLS has made powerful headway with the first successful use of genetically engineered T-Cells resulting in 89 percent of acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients experiencing a complete response rate. With more than one type of blood cancer, each person is a different situation and involves different approaches and treatments. With no way to prevent or pre-screen most blood cancers, improving or developing breakthrough therapies has created a more personalized treatment approach also called “targeted drugs.” LLS funds several programs and grants like the Translational Research Program (TRP) and the Therapy Acceleration Program (TAP) that get the most promising results into clinical trials and available for patients as quick as possible. The Quest for Cures is another LLS funded program that focuses on the unmet medical needs and
recognizes why some treatments aren’t as successful with certain patients.
How You Can Help
LLS offers several volunteer opportunities for a person or community to take part in. Teams in Training (TNT) is a charity race where participants can enter individually or as a team to raise money through their fundraising page or sponsorship’s. There is no required fitness level and participants range from newcomers to trained athletics. For those who are unable to physically participate or attend the event, TNT offers an interactive online training program known as TNT Flex. Light the Night Walk is a non-competitive fundraising event where participants walk with different colored lanterns to honor or pay tribute to loved ones diagnosed with blood cancer. White lanterns represent survivors, red lanterns represent supporters, and gold lanterns are in memory of a loved one. Last year alone, Light the Night Walk took place in over 200 communities and raised $18.8 million towards blood cancer research. Students are able to show their support by joining the Student Series, a philanthropy service learning program that educates and informs students about the disease and helps raise funds through their school. We also offer the option to sign up as an LLS advocate or join one of our 64 Chapters throughout the United States to stay updated on news and events in your area. LLS appreciates the generosity and support from the public and their sponsors but relies on contributions to strengthen and continue our mission. The reality is, the more money we raise, the sooner we are able to find a cure.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is the leading non-profit organization for blood cancer information, resources, and patient support. The organization became established in 1949 by Rudolph and Antoinette de Villiers in honor of their son who was diagnosed with the disease. LLS mission is to find a cure for blood cancer and provide their patients with the best medical care and resources available. Since 1949, LLS has invested over 79.8 million dollars towards blood cancer research and funds over 300 research programs and 127 academic grants. These programs and grants have discovered breakthrough therapies and treatments that have showed successful results towards specific types of cancers. In order to continue research and treatment …show more content…
development, LLS depends on charitable donations, sponsorships and fundraising campaigns to financial support current or future research. LLS is currently promoting two campaigns to help increase public awareness and donations. The campaign “Someday is Today,” emphasizes how important it is for LLS to continue their research and advocacy for blood cancer to find a cure today, rather than someday. The second campaign focuses on raising $400,000 during the month of September, Blood Cancer Awareness Month. To go with the 30 days of September, LLS will issue 30 “proof points” that explain the organization’s influence and progress towards finding a cure. LLS hopes both campaigns will help give the public a better understanding about the disease, and encourage donations to support their mission in creating a world without blood cancers.
Challenges
As a non-profit organization, LLS depends on contributions and corporate funding to support the financial costs of drug development, academic programs, and innovative treatments. LLS faces the daily challenges of identifying new methods or sources to fund related expenses and maintain financial sustainability of the organization. LLS focuses on specific areas within the medical field and their relationships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. LLS depends on these relationships for medical resources and their ability to help accelerate promising research into human applications. Even with the help of sponsors and corporation funding, LLS still needs more resources and contributions to financially assist in other areas like uninsured patients and increasing the availability of treatments and resources for patients in smaller communities. LLS also has to deal with the issue of competitive corporations or organizations referring to blood cancer as one of the “orphan diseases,” because of its limited potential of profit. LLS doesn’t focus on raising money for the organization’s needs, but to raise money to meet the medical need and serve the public interest. LLS uses 100% of their total expenses to fund programs and support services. Because of charitable donations, LLS has been able to improve the quality of life for blood cancer patients and get one step closer to their mission of finding a cure.
Statistical Information and Facts
Below are statistical facts and information from The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
• Nearly 50 percent of new cancer therapies between 2000 and 2014 were for blood cancer patients.
• LLS has quadrupled the five-year survival rate since the 1960s.
• LLS convinced legislation to pass oral parity in 33 states.
• Newly discovered treatments: chemotherapy, immunotherapy and stem cell transplantation.
• The most common types of blood cancers are leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
• LLS established several Research Grant Programs: Career Development Program, The Translational Research Program and The Screen to Lead.
• LLS eliminated Oregon’s two-year waiting period for stem cell transplants for uninsured blood cancer patients.
• LLS increased the child survival rate from three percent in 1964, to 90 percent today.
• LLS has 64 Chapters throughout the United States, and four in Canada.
• Approximately every three minutes one person in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer.
• Some of the most common symptoms of blood cancers are one or more enlarged lymph nodes, persistent flu-like symptoms such as fever, bone pain, excessive sweating, paleness, fatigue, or sudden weight …show more content…
loss.
• The first discovery therapy approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration were treatments for blood cancer patients.
• Team in Training has raised over $1.4 billion for blood cancer research.
• The survival rate for myeloma has more than tripled since the 1960s.
Research Produces Results
Through their research LLS has discovered lifesaving treatments and been able to reduce the amount of side effects with specific therapies.
LLS is dedicated to their patients and provides emotional support as well as financial help through their Co-Pay Assistance Program, which has provided over $200 million for blood cancer patients. Researchers have been able to understand the effects of transplantation treatment verse alternative treatment and any potential effects they could have on a patient’s survival rate. Researchers have also developed targeted therapies and immunotherapy drug kill specific cancer cells that attack the immune system. LLS has made powerful headway with the first successful use of genetically engineered T-Cells resulting in 89 percent of acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients experiencing a complete response rate. With more than one type of blood cancer, each person is a different situation and involves different approaches and treatments. With no way to prevent or pre-screen most blood cancers, improving or developing breakthrough therapies has created a more personalized treatment approach also called “targeted drugs.” LLS funds several programs and grants like the Translational Research Program (TRP) and the Therapy Acceleration Program (TAP) that get the most promising results into clinical trials and available for patients as quick as possible. The Quest for Cures is another LLS funded program that focuses on the unmet medical needs and
recognizes why some treatments aren’t as successful with certain patients.
How You Can Help
LLS offers several volunteer opportunities for a person or community to take part in. Teams in Training (TNT) is a charity race where participants can enter individually or as a team to raise money through their fundraising page or sponsorship’s. There is no required fitness level and participants range from newcomers to trained athletics. For those who are unable to physically participate or attend the event, TNT offers an interactive online training program known as TNT Flex. Light the Night Walk is a non-competitive fundraising event where participants walk with different colored lanterns to honor or pay tribute to loved ones diagnosed with blood cancer. White lanterns represent survivors, red lanterns represent supporters, and gold lanterns are in memory of a loved one. Last year alone, Light the Night Walk took place in over 200 communities and raised $18.8 million towards blood cancer research. Students are able to show their support by joining the Student Series, a philanthropy service learning program that educates and informs students about the disease and helps raise funds through their school. We also offer the option to sign up as an LLS advocate or join one of our 64 Chapters throughout the United States to stay updated on news and events in your area. LLS appreciates the generosity and support from the public and their sponsors but relies on contributions to strengthen and continue our mission. The reality is, the more money we raise, the sooner we are able to find a cure.