Serving Others in the Fight Against Cancer
From the time my dad was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to his death was just three weeks. He went into the hospital to have a small tumor removed, and we all believed that surgery would mark the end of his cancer treatment. Unfortunately, that was not how my family’s story turned out. Losing my dad like that was tragic and shocking, but cancer—and blood cancers in particular—can progress swiftly and with little warning.
After my dad’s journey, I began volunteering and raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), which has invested more than $1 billion in research to advance breakthrough therapies for blood cancers. These treatments have also saved the lives of people affected by bone, stomach, brain, ovarian, pancreatic, skin, lung, prostrate, breast, liver and kidney cancers as well as diseases such as diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, nearly 40% of new cancer therapies approved by the FDA since 2000 were first approved for a blood cancer, and LLS helped advance most of them.
This year, I am honored to be a candidate for the LLS Man & Woman of the Year campaign—a 10-week philanthropic competition to raise funds in support of blood cancer research. The team leader who raises the most funds during the campaign is awarded the prestigious title of Man or Woman of the Year in their community. My team, Cancel Cancer, seeks to raise over $200,000 to help fight blood cancer, and if we raise at least $50,000, we will be able to name a cancer research grant in my dad’s name—an incredible tribute to his memory. If you want to follow along with my fundraising efforts and make a donation, please visit my fundraising page.
I’m thrilled that several of my Truepoint team members have joined me on team Cancel Cancer: Chris Carleton, Wayne Lippert, Adam Lipton, and Abby Tuke have all committed to raising as many dollars as they can to beat blood cancer and secure a brighter future for people like my dad. I feel grateful to work at a company like Truepoint—one that lives out its core value to be “a team of good people who put forth relentless effort to serve others.” The company and my colleagues have given tremendous support to my philanthropic activities.
These teammates also have their own reasons for supporting my campaign. Check out their “whys” below and view their fundraising sites to learn more:
Chris Carleton:
“When a friend was diagnosed with CLL in 2000, I wanted to find a way to get involved to find a cure for blood cancer. That’s when I discovered The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and the research they are funding. I have volunteered for LLS in many capacities over the past 20 years, and while there is not currently a cure for cancer, it finally feels like it is realistic to think that it become a manageable disease in my lifetime. That is why I continue to advocate and raise money for LLS.”
Chris’ Fundraising Site
Adam Lipton:
“Fortunately, I have been relatively spared from the curse of cancer touching the lives of my friends and family. Hearing stories like that of Janel’s father makes me want to fight for a cure so that more people can fall on the lucky side of the cancer spectrum like me.”
Adam’s Fundraising Site
Wayne Lippert:
“Many years ago, my nephew was diagnosed with AML. Thankfully, he fought it and survived. But I know that others have not been as fortunate, so I am committed to raising money to help fight blood cancer.”
Wayne’s Fundraising Site
Abby Tuke:
“In late 2019, my dad was diagnosed with ALL and died a month later. I’m committed to helping my friend and colleague Janel cancel cancer so that other families can avoid the pain my family went through.”
Abby’s Fundraising Site
As you can probably tell, I am passionate about my community service, but working at Truepoint also gives me the opportunity to serve others—day in, day out—in my work life, too. Many of our clients have been directly affected by cancer or another serious diagnosis. I know from experience what a relief it is to not have to worry about financial matters when a loved one needs special care. Fortunately, I had a pretty good handle on my parent’s finances when my dad got sick, so my family didn’t have to worry about those issues on top of everything else. We could focus on fighting cancer and spending time together.
This is how Truepoint helps people during difficult times. We may not be physicians or caregivers, but we can provide peace of mind when everything else is topsy-turvy. Because of our in-depth planning, when a diagnosis arrives, we can assure clients that they’ll be okay financially – we’ve got that part covered.
Thank you for allowing me to share my story. And please consider following me, and the rest of Team Cancel Cancer, as we raise the critical funds needed to help fight blood cancer. As we near the end of the campaign in early June, I’ll share my lessons learned along the way and report on our campaign progress.
