Leukemia and Lymphoma Society kicks off annual fundraising campaign

IOWA CITY — It wasn't until her 10-year-old was diagnosed with leukemia that Brianna Wills got involved with the Eastern Iowa chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Now, Wills runs the spring fundraising campaign for the organization.

In February 2016, Wills' son Calder was diagnosed with leukemia. Wills, who had a background in fundraising, wasn't working in the months after Calder's diagnosis. Calder's treatment and need for care — which included spending 90 days in the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics — made it difficult for Wills to continue a regular work schedule.

By summertime, Wills was working part-time with the Eastern Iowa chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to do something proactive about cancer research. By October 2016, Wills was the campaign manager for two annual events. The money raised funds blood cancer research.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society national spring fundraising campaign kicked off March 2. During the kickoff event, Man & Woman of the Year, prominent community members are nominated to be one of four men or one of four women who compete to raise tmoney. The men and women champions will be announced May 12 at a gala. Money raised funds blood cancer research.

Wills said the Eastern Iowa chapter typically raises $350,000 a year.

'We're asking each of the individual candidates to tap into their personal circle and do things that speak to their circles of influence,' Wills said.

For the campaign, the chapter also chooses a local boy and girl of the year. During Calder's treatment, Wills had met Moriah Haveman, who she nominated to be this year's girl of the year. Moriah, who is exactly 7 3/4, has curly brown hair that is starting grow back. She is so vivacious that other patients and doctors noticed her energetic attitude during her chemotherapy treatment, her mother, Michelle, said.

Alhough Moriah is in remission and Calder recently finished his first 10 chemotherapy treatments, their parents said the experience had changed their outlook on giving back and being involved with cancer research.

Wills said it is easy to 'get into ruts' when being giving back to various causes.

'Everyone has certain causes they gravitate toward because of what they're involved with,' she said. 'Here we are, suddenly, knee-deep in cancer — and children's cancer which is another animal. Until you've been the parent, it's something most people imagine in their nightmares. Once you've been there, I think you can have a different level of empathy.'

Haveman was involved in church fundraisers before Moriah's diagnosis and agreed with Wills.

'We landed right in the middle of it,' Haveman said. 'That's where God put us. Just because you say you're a Christian doesn't mean it has to be faith type (fundraisers.) It's all about helping other people regardless of what they're facing.'

And Wills said it isn't difficult to show others that funding blood cancer research is crucial.

'What we know from the last 15 years is more than half of the FDA approved drugs to treat all cancers began through funding for research for blood cancer,' she said. 'This is a great place to get involved because we're really looking for cures for all cancers.'

DONATE ONLINE

Want to donate to an Eastern Iowa man or woman of the year candidate to help them raise the most money?

Ashleigh Mack: www.mwoyamack.org

Brooke Fitzgerald: www.mwoybfitzgerald.org

Martha Krejci: www.mwoymkrejci.org

Chad Johnson: www.mwoycjohnson.org

Blaine Thomas: www.mwoybthomas.org

l Comments: (319) 368-8516; makayla.tendall@thegazette.com