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Every three minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. Cancer is a tough opponent, but we at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) are tougher.
Our track record in accelerating lifesaving treatments is unparalleled, and we champion the most pioneering research to fuel our attack against cancer. We are laser-focused on cures, and we're relentless in supporting patients and their families throughout their cancer experience to ensure they have access to care. Our work is advancing breakthroughs for more than 1.3 million Americans living with or in remission from a blood cancer, and importantly, it is helping patients with other cancers and diseases.
Nearly 70 years of fighting blood cancers has led us to a game changing belief. Beating cancer is in our blood. With your support, we are transforming this powerful belief in finding cures into reality for more patients.
Gratefully,
Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer
Peter Brock, Chairman of the Board
At LLS, our mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
As the world's largest nonprofit dedicated to fighting blood cancers, our work has helped millions impacted by cancer. Though LLS is known for funding groundbreaking research to find better treatments and cures, we do so much more. We provide free information, education and support services for those who are newly diagnosed and those living with their disease. We fight for lifesaving policy changes at the state and federal level to ensure access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.
We are committed to working tirelessly toward our mission every single day, until we find cures.
Here at LLS, we have a bold vision: a world without blood cancers. The impact that we are making on the lives of patients and their families gives us confidence that we will achieve this goal in our lifetime.
Our incredible progress this year puts us at the forefront of the fight to cure cancer. LLS achieved a record fundraising year, generating almost $450 million in revenue that allowed us to invest even more in our mission and help more patients. Our record success is driving innovation across the cancer landscape. Revolutionary new treatments, originally discovered through blood cancer research, are now being tested in clinical trials for other cancers. Not only is the blood an important starting place to find cures for cancer, but it is in our DNA – it is what we do at LLS every day.
That's why we are the only organization that can say proudly "Beating Cancer is in Our Blood." Thanks to you, LLS has:
Raised the bar for peer-to-peer fundraising Together, participants across all of our campaigns helped us raise a record-breaking total of more than $250 million. Our powerful Light The Night campaign is now the fifth largest peer-to-peer fundraising program in America.
Engaged the next generation of philanthropic leaders Through LLS’s newest innovation in fundraising, Students of the Year, more than 600 motivated high school student teams raised significant funds for our mission.
Advanced new treatments for patients with cancer LLS helped advance 34 of the 39 blood cancer treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 2017.
Funded the most visionary cancer research worldwide Our $188 million multi-year research commitment spans the most promising science across all blood cancers, including immunotherapy, genomics and personalized medicine.
Expanded clinical trial education and enrollment LLS Information Specialists responded to nearly 20,000 inquiries from patients and caregivers, including inquiries about clinical trials. LLS Clinical Trial Support Center (CTSC) nurses provided 562 patients with in-depth clinical trial navigation and support – up 65 percent from 2017.
Provided direct support to patients impacted by natural disasters We committed up to $1 million in aid to support blood cancer patients impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well as wild fires in California.
Made our voices heard on behalf of cancer patients and survivors More than 100,000 volunteer advocates across the country acted as a powerful voice for cancer patients and survivors to influence change at the state and federal level.
Achieved a major win for dedicated pediatric cancer research Our Office of Public Policy, along with LLS volunteer advocates, sent thousands of letters to help pass into law The Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act, the most comprehensive federal childhood cancer legislation ever introduced.
Contributing to nearly every advancement in blood cancer treatment in recent decades, LLS is the largest nonprofit funder of cutting-edge blood cancer research to advance cures.
In fact, we have invested more than $1.2 billion in cancer research since we started in 1949, leading to breakthroughs in immunotherapy, genomics and personalized medicine that are improving and saving the lives of patients.
We support the most outstanding scientists and physicians around the world through more than 235 research grants and 20 Therapy Acceleration Program® partnerships.
Our support of innovative blood cancer research is breaking new ground in the fight against cancer. We helped pioneer CAR-T cell immunotherapy, a game changing treatment approach now being tested in more than 500 clinical trials for other cancers.
Our Beat AML® Master Clinical Trial is revolutionizing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment. To date, we’ve enrolled more than 400 patients.
Our long-term research investment is paying off. LLS helped advance 19 of the 21 blood cancer treatments approved by the FDA in 2018 alone.
When someone experiences the fear and uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis, we provide hope, guidance, education and support. This year alone, LLS Information Specialists responded to nearly 20,000 inquiries from patients and caregivers, guiding them to our wide array of education and support services.
Through our nationwide grassroots network of more than 100,000 volunteers, we advocate for policies at the state and federal level that accelerate new treatments and ensure patients have access to care, so that they can live longer, healthier lives. This year, our efforts have helped to increase federal cancer research funds, speed the review and approval process for new therapies, and protect patient access to lifesaving treatments.
Our volunteers are part of a diverse community of supporters who represent all walks of life and bring different experiences and passions to drive forward our mission. Beating Cancer is in Our Blood, whether you are going through a diagnosis, caring for someone who has been impacted, or simply want to know a world without blood cancer. With countless ways to engage, from raising critical funds, driving forward policies that benefit patients, and providing support to those impacted by cancer, our volunteers are truly making a difference.
Every day, every participant brings us closer to ending blood cancers. We are inspiring people across the country to run, hike, walk, sail, build teams and gain lifelong learning skills while raising funds to drive forward our mission in their own unique and powerful ways. Together, participants across all of our campaigns helped us raise a record-breaking total of more than $250 million. Learn how LLS campaign participants drive our impact.
We've always believed the most efficient way to finding cures for blood cancer is by directing as much funding as possible to the best and most innovative research, while providing patient support and education, and tirelessly advocating on behalf of patients. Your support is invested wisely.
We are grateful to our partners and sponsors, who harness the power of their consumers, communities and employees to help fight blood cancers.
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