The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society hosts Egg Hunt to thank community for their "egg-ceptional" support throughout the years

March 31, 2012 -- After 46 years of support and charitable work from the local St. Louis community, the Gateway Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) strapped on their bunny ears to host their Second Annual "Hunt for a Cure."

5,000 children plus their parents turned out for the event on March 31, which was held as a thank you to the countless LLS supporters and volunteers who haven given their time, talents and monies in the "hunt" for treatments and cures.

"The Leukemia & Lymphoma Soceity appreciates the entire community coming together to help us in our hunt for a cure.  LLS partnered with local senior centers to bring awarentess to the fact that leukemia cause more deaths than any other cancer among children under the age of 20.  As sad as that fact is, it strikes adults 10 times that number.  Blood cancer is an intergenerational disease and someone dies of it every 10 minutes.  These stats are unacceptable and we need to work hard to put a stop to this and ultimately find a cure," said Debbie Kersting LLS executive Director.

This event, which had over 50,000 hidden eggs in Forest Park's Central Fields, was possible in special part ot multiple community partners, including:

• 50 area senior centers from Autumn View Gardens St. Louis, Bethesda Meadow, Big Bend Woods Healthcare Center, Brooking Park, Cape Albeon, Caregivers Inn, Charlevoix HealthCare Center, The Delmar Gardens Family (Chesterfield Villas, Garden Villas, Garden Villas North, Garden Villas of O'Fallon, Garden villas South, Delmar Gardens of Chesterfield, Delmar Gardens of Creve Coeur, Delmar Gardens on the Green, Delmar Gardens of Meramec Valley, Delmar Gardens NOrth, Delmar Gardens of O'Fallon, Delmar Gardens South, Delmar Gardens West), Dutchtown Care & Rehab Center, Gambrill Gardens, Gillespie Village Apartments, Lake St. Charles Retirement Center, Lutheran Service Communites (Breeze Park, Dunn Road Manor, Laclede Groves, Meramec Bluffs, Meridian Village, Richmond Terrace, Rose Hill House, Village at Mackenzie Place, Mari de Villa Retirement Center, Mark Twain Manor Nursing Home, McKnight Place (assisted living), NHC Healthcare - St. Charles, NHC Healthcare - Maryland Heights, NHC Healthcare - Town & Country, Orchid Terrace, Parc Provence, Parklane Care and Rehabilitation Center, St. Sophia Health and Rehabilitation Center, St. Joseph Apartments, and Sunrise of Des Peres.  Some Senior Centers have requested to remain anonymous.
• Three area children's hospitals: St. Louis Children's Hospital, SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, Mercy Cancer Center.
• Fox 2 and 19 participating radio stations from CBS Radio St. Louis, Clear Channel Media & Entertainment St. Louis, Emmis Communications St. Louis, Hubbard Radio St. Louis, 550 KTRS and Radio One St. Louis
• UPS

For additonal information on programs or services provided by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, contact the Gateway Chapter at 314.878.0780.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest volunary health agency dedicated to blood cancer.  The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.  LLS funds livesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.

Founded in 1949 and headquarted in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Candada.  To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Informaion Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. www.lls.org

###