As I go into the fourth week of the #MWOY competition, I'd like to give an update on my mom.

Mom finished her chemo treatments and has been feeling much better. She's more mobile and active and is working towards gaining back her strength. Her latest scan results were very promising and we're all in positive spirits. 

I would like to thank everybody, deeply, for all of your support, calls, texts, drive-bys, meals, and prayers. Our family is so very lucky to have you as our support system.

Speaking of support, that is one of the reasons I'm participating in the MWOY competition. LLS provides unparalleled support to the parents/families of Leukemia and Lymphoma patients. This comes in the form of education, financial support, and emotional support. My family is lucky to have the resources that we do, and are aware that that is lacking frequently in the experiences of others. I hope to make a difference in the cancer journey of others' and their families. 

Please join me in supporting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) by making a donation to my fundraising campaign for Man & Woman of the Year.

Dear friends and family,

This year, I was nominated as a Man of the Year Candidate for the Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I have a support team of close friends and family members who are all working towards the same goal--to raise funds and awareness for blood cancer. My team and I are working to raise as much as possible over the next 10 weeks. Every dollar we raise counts as one vote for me as a Man of the Year candidate. The candidate whose team tallies the most votes earns the prestigious title of "Man or Woman of the Year". 

I was inspired to run this campaign for many reasons, but my number one reason is my mother, Stella. In 2009 she was diagnosed, fought, and eventually beat breast cancer. Unfortunately, in 2020 she was again diagnosed with cancer, however this time it was ovarian cancer. She is currently fighting cancer again and we are doing all we can to help her with this process.

As some of you might know there is a great feeling of helplessness when a loved one has cancer. For those that know her my mother is a strong, loving, caring, and giving person who values service to others. With these values in mind, I felt the need to not only help my family in any way possible but also help anyone who is fighting this disease. Although my mother does not have leukemia or lymphoma there have been many treatments discovered for many different types of cancers through the search for a cure for blood cancer. 

As you know, though, everyone wins when cancer loses. Thanks to your support, my efforts will help fund therapies and treatments that are saving lives. Over the years, support from people like you has been responsible for the blood cancer advancements that have doubled, tripled, and in some cases quadrupled the survival rate for some blood cancers. Many LLS supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients, but are also now used to treat patients with rare forms of stomach and skin cancers and are in clinical trials for patients with lung, brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers. And LLS funded drugs like targeted therapies and immunotherapies are now saving thousands of lives every day.

All donations are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. They'll not only support LLS research, but patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services as well.

Please visit my website often and tell friends who would also like to donate!

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you for your support! For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org