LITTLETON 11-YEAR-OLD AND CENTENNIAL 7-YEAR-OLD HONORED BY THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHAPTER OF THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY
Robert Jackson of Littleton and Dori O'Malley of Centennial Named 2008 Boy & Girl of the Year for the Man & Woman of the Year Campaign
The Rocky Mountain Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) today announced that 11-year-old
Robert Jackson, of Littleton, and seven-year-old
Dori O'Malley, of Centennial, were named the 2008 Boy & Girl of the Year.The Boy & Girl of the Year will be recognized at the Man & Woman of the Year Grand Finale Election Night on Saturday, May 31, 2008, in Denver.
"Robert and Dori are two of the many courageous faces of Coloradoans affected by blood cancer," said
Rebecca Russell, executive director for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "As the Boy & Girl of the Year, they serve as ambassadors for the Man & Woman of the Year fundraising campaign."
Robert Jackson was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in 2004. ALL is a fast-growing cancer of the white blood cells and is the most common type of cancer found in children under age 15. He completed treatment last November and is now in remission. Robert enjoys baseball, tennis, golf and playing video games.
Dori O'Malley is a second grader at Trails West Elementary School in Centennial, Colo. She enjoys riding her bike, swimming, playing with friends and dancing. Dori was diagnosed more than a year ago with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and continues monthly doctors' visits for chemotherapy and spinal taps. She is excited about her hair growing back and says she never wants to cut it.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's annual Man & Woman of the Year campaign is a fundraising competition in which candidates vie for the title of "Man" and "Woman" of the Year. A select group of highly motivated, philanthropic individuals run for the title and do so on behalf of the very special Boy and Girl of the Year who are blood cancer survivors. This year, six individuals are competing -
Don Bennett of Colorado Springs,
Jill DiPasquale of Greenwood Village,
Bridget Richards of Evergreen,
Dick Saunders of Englewood, and Denver residents
Elizabeth ByrnesCrony and
Rick Janson.
The individual man and woman who raise the most funds during the eight-week campaign will be awarded the title of Man & Woman of the Year and will be named at the Grand Finale Election Night held on Saturday, May 31, 2008, at the Denver Marriott City Center. Local winners will go on to compete nationally.
To learn more about the Man & Woman of the Year candidates and to support their efforts, visit
http://www.manwomanoftheyear.org/rm, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "2008 Meet the Candidates."
For more information about the Man & Woman of the Year campaign and the Rocky Mountain Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, contact Kelly Posthuma at (303) 984-2110.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested more than $550.8 million for research specifically targeting blood cancers.
For more information about blood cancer, visit
www.LLS.org or call LLS Information Resource Center (IRC), a call center staffed by master's level social workers, nurses and health educators who provide information, support and resources to patients and their families and caregivers. IRC information specialists are available at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.