It was a shock in July of 2021 when my friend Melissa Bednarczyk was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. Melissa and I began our friendship when our daughters met in Pre-K. They have been the best of friends ever since. Melissa and I spent many years sitting through PTA functions, softball games and Girl Scout events. Our strongest bond came as we helped the girls navigate the pitfalls of high school and challenges of getting ready for college.

Having lost my mother to cancer, at a young age, I had a good understanding of what Melissa’s daughter Maddy was going through. I knew how scared she would be as her mom went through treatment and the uncertainty of the future. I was glad she had my daughter Kathleen to lean on through this journey. Melissa showed such bravery, strength and resilience through her entire cancer journey. She is an inspiration to me and all who know her well.

Each year, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) launches its “Visionaries of the Year” fundraising campaign, and this year I was honored to be nominated as a candidate. I am writing today to ask for your support of LLS’s mission in its efforts to find cures for blood cancers and to assist patients and families as they battle this disease. I have the privilege of leading this team that we are lovingly calling “Melissa’s Misfits”.

From March 6, 2025 – May 15, 2025, Melissa’s Misfits’ goal is to raise $50,000, which will go directly to LLS in support of its longstanding goal: a world without blood cancers. If we raise $50,000 or more by May 15, we can connect our team’s name to an LLS-funded research portfolio to honor our efforts to help people with blood cancers.

I am particularly passionate about the research LLS is doing to advance lifesaving treatments and will be representing this area of LLS during my campaign. LLS currently supports 289 research projects led by innovative scientists worldwide to find new treatments for all types of blood cancer. Their longstanding investment in research initiatives has helped fund over 70% of the blood cancer treatments approved by the FDA over the last 2 decades. This is an organization that is making an impact with the dollars it raises, and I’m proud to be associated with LLS.

All donations received will support LLS’s overall mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. I thank you in advance for supporting this incredible need. I’ll keep you posted on how the campaign goes. For now, I am grateful for your friendship and support.

With Regards,

Noreen Dowling

To make your donation go further—check if your company matches charitable gifts. www.lls.org/matchinggifts