The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Central California

Sonia Pankey, Presley Navejas & Amelia Wood have teamed up to fight cancer as our newest Bakersfield Student Visionaries of the Year candidates! 🎉 We are so excited to welcome Team Cure Crusaders to our 2025 candidate class! These incredible students are representing Bakersfield High School and we can’t thank them enough for signing up to save lives. Welcome to the LLS family ❤️

Grab your lanterns! We have 2 weeks left until we bring light to the darkness of cancer together at Chukchansi Park alongside The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! ✨ There’s still time to join the movement 👉 https://www.lightthenight.org/events/central-valley

Let’s give a warm LLS welcome to Addison Pair to the 2025 Bakersfield Student Visionaries of the Year candidate class! Addison is an incredible student leading Team Rock the Red and is representing Stockdale High School! 🥳 🎉 Congratulations and thank you for saying YES to saving lives! We can't wait to see all that you accomplish! Welcome to the LLS family! ❤️

🚨 Flash Incentive Alert! 🚨 Ready to build your team and win big? For every 5 new team members registered between today, October 31 and Saturday, November 2 at 12 pm, you will be entered for a chance to win a swag bag full of amazing LLS goodies! Rally your squad today by visiting https://www.lightthenight.org/events/central-valley

We are so excited to welcome Ana Prado as our newest Visionaries of the Year candidate for our Bakersfield market! 🥳🎉 Ana is a Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist from Clinica Sierra Vista. ❤️ Ana, thank you for saying YES to signing up to save lives! It’s because of individuals like you, that LLS can continue to bring lifesaving research and support to our patients and their families. We can’t wait to see the amazing impact you will make on the LLS mission. ❤️

It’s time to celebrate another community member stepping up to the fight against cancer! Let’s give a warm welcome to our newest Bakersfield Visionaries of the Year candidate, Debra Cox! 🥳🎉Debra is a Director of Quality Improvement and we can’t thank her enough for saying YES to signing up to save lives! We can’t wait to see the amazing impact you will make on the LLS mission! Welcome to the LLS family!❤️

We are so grateful for our incredible 2024 sponsors! A big thank you to our sponsor, Penny-Newman Grain Co., for their continued partnership!

With their support, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society can fund critical cancer researchers, support patients, and their families, and grow closer to a world without blood cancers.

Learn how you can make an impact and fundraise for the mission. To register: https://www.lightthenight.org/events/central-valley

We are 2 weeks away from Light The Night Central Valley at Chukchansi Park in Fresno and still in need of volunteers.

We need volunteers Thursday Nov 14th from 11am-5pm for set up. We also need volunteers on Friday Nov 15th from 10am-3pm for set up, 4-8pm for tasks during the event, and from 8-10pm for tear down. Please contact Amy Pine at [email protected].

We are so grateful for our incredible 2024 sponsors! A big thank you to our sponsor, Keenan Farms Pistachios, for their continued partnership!

With their support, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society can fund critical cancer researchers, support patients, and their families, and grow closer to a world without blood cancers.

Learn how you can make an impact and fundraise for the mission. To register: https://www.lightthenight.org/events/central-valley

Exciting News! 🌟 Today we would like to celebrate and welcome Sienna Surgener and Analeina Lugo, who have teamed up to fight cancer as our newest Bakersfield Student Visionaries of the Year candidates. 🥳 We are so excited to welcome Team Fighting For Family to our 2025 candidate class! 🎉 These incredible students are Seniors representing Garces Memorial High School and we can’t thank them enough! We can't wait to see all that you accomplish with your campaign! Welcome to the LLS family!❤️

We are so grateful for our incredible 2024 sponsors! A big thank you to our sponsor, Mid Valley Financial, for their continued partnership!

With their support, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society can fund critical cancer researchers, support patients, and their families, and grow closer to a world without blood cancers.

Learn how you can make an impact and fundraise for the mission. To register: https://www.lightthenight.org/events/central-valley

We’re ending the week on a high note! 🎉 We would like to celebrate and welcome Cristian Camou and Mikel Iturriria of Team Kick Down Cancer! Cristian and Mikel have teamed up to fight cancer as our newest Bakersfield Student Visionaries of the Year candidates. 🥳 We are so excited to welcome them to our 2025 candidate class! 🎉 These spectacular students are Juniors representing Centennial High School, and we can’t thank them enough for signing up to saves lives! We can't wait to see all that you accomplish with your campaign! Welcome to the LLS family!❤️

Grab your lanterns! We have 3 weeks left until we bring light to the darkness of cancer together at Chukchansi Park alongside The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! ✨ There’s still time to join the movement 👉 https://www.lightthenight.org/events/central-valley

We are so excited to welcome Aaron Salcedo as our newest Visionary of the Year candidate for our Fresno market! 🎉 Aaron is the Owner of Prime Ag LLC. Aaron, thank you for saying YES to signing up to save lives! It’s because of individuals like you, that LLS can continue to bring lifesaving research and support to our patients and their families. We can’t wait to see the amazing impact you will make on the LLS mission. Welcome to the LLS family!

We are so grateful for our incredible 2024 sponsors! A big thank you to our sponsor, Inspire Health Medical Group, for their continued partnership!

With their support, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society can fund critical cancer researchers, support patients, and their families, and grow closer to a world without blood cancers.

Learn how you can make an impact and fundraise for the mission. To register: https://www.lightthenight.org/events/central-valley

Please join us in welcoming our newest Bakersfield Student Visionaries of the Year candidate team, The Cancer Crushers! Juliette McCrary and Cianna Antongiovanni have teamed up to fight cancer and we can’t thank them enough! ❤️ Juliette and Cienna are Sophomores at Garces Memorial High School, and we can't wait to see all that you two accomplish with your campaign! Congratulations and thank you for saying YES to saving lives! Welcome to the LLS Family!

We are so grateful for our incredible 2024 sponsors! A big thank you to our sponsor, Don & Cheryl Baker, for their continued partnership!

With their support, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society can fund critical cancer researchers, support patients, and their families, and grow closer to a world without blood cancers.

Learn how you can make an impact and fundraise for the mission. To register: https://www.lightthenight.org/events/central-valley

Happy Friday! 🎉 We’re ending the week off on a high note as we welcome Harveen Brar and Christine Truong of Team Cancel Cancer, to the 2025 Fresno Student Visionaries of the Year class! 🥳 These incredible students are representing University High School, and we can’t thank them enough for signing up to save lives! 🙌❤️

Exciting News! 🌟 We’re proud to introduce our newest candidate for the 2025 Fresno Visionaries of the Year campaign! Meet Dr. Hedieh Arbabzadeh 🥳 🎉Dr. Hedi is the Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon and owner of Dr. Hedi Plastic Surgery. We want to thank her for her dedication to the fight against blood cancers and we can’t thank her enough for saying “YES” to saving lives! We can’t wait to see the tremendous impact you have supporting the LLS mission! Welcome to the LLS family! hedi ❤️ THANKYOU

We are so grateful for our incredible 2024 sponsors! A big thank you to our sponsor, Community Cancer Institute, for their continued partnership!

With their support, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society can fund critical cancer researchers, support patients, and their families, and grow closer to a world without blood cancers.

Learn how you can make an impact and fundraise for the mission. To register: https://www.lightthenight.org/events/central-valley

We are so grateful for our incredible 2024 sponsors! A big thank you to our sponsor, Clawson Honda of Fresno, for their continued partnership!

With their support, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society can fund critical cancer researchers, support patients, and their families, and grow closer to a world without blood cancers.

Learn how you can make an impact and fundraise for the mission. To register: https://www.lightthenight.org/events/central-valley

Let’s give a big LLS welcome to our newest Bakersfield Visionaries of the Year candidate, Myah Salinas! 🥳🎉 Myah is a Social Media Influencer. 🤳✨ It’s because of individuals like you that LLS can continue to bring lifesaving research and support to our patients and their families. Myah, you for saying “YES” to signing up to save lives! You are going to do great things and we can’t wait to kick off your campaign together! Welcome to the LLS family! ❤️

Grab your lanterns! We have 4 weeks left until we bring light to the darkness of cancer together at Chukchansi Park alongside Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! ✨ There’s still time to join the movement 👉 https://www.lightthenight.org/events/central-valley

Scarlett Cain and Amelia Kinton have teamed up to fight cancer as our newest FRESNO Student Visionaries of the Year candidates! 🎉 We are so excited to welcome Team Broncos for a Cure to our 2025 candidate class! These incredible students are representing Clovis North High School and we can’t thank them enough for signing up to save lives. Welcome to the LLS family ❤️

We are so grateful for our incredible 2024 sponsors! A big thank you to our sponsor, CCARE, for their continued partnership!

With their support, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society can fund critical cancer researchers, support patients, and their families, and grow closer to a world without blood cancers.

Learn how you can make an impact and fundraise for the mission. To register: https://www.lightthenight.org/events/central-valley

Exciting breakthrough! 📣 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new targeted immunotherapy for adults with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. This breakthrough offers new hope for these patients as this blood cancer becomes harder to treat with each relapse. Learn more about this promising treatment and LLS's ongoing efforts to advance lymphoma research 👉 https://bit.ly/3LTQqfH

Meet the incredible 2024 Visionaries of the Year National Winners who are helping to make our vision for a world without blood cancer come true! 👇❤️🌐🌟

🥇 National Visionary of the Year: Ashley Snider! As an acute myeloid leukemia survivor herself, Snider's steadfast determination was personal. This May, she celebrated five years post-transplant with no relapses.

🥈 National Runner-Up: Claire Warren! Claire was motivated to fundraise in honor of her friend‘s daughter, who was diagnosed with leukemia at just three years old.

🎉 National All Star Visionary of the Year: Bill Rawlings! Bill fundraised in honor of founder of Atlanta Fine Homes and International Realty, Jenny, who is currently battling cancer and his father-in-law, Terry, who has been battling CLL for over a decade.

⭐ National All Star Runner-Up: Brian Leigh! Brian is a Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) survivor, he's currently in his 16th year of remission.

🥳 First-Ever National Team Member of the Year: Joe Cupoli! New this year, LLS named Joe Cupoli National “Team Member of the Year” for his extraordinary impact. Having run as a candidate in 2019, and again as an All Star in 2021, this year, Joe decided to support his partner Kat in her campaign.

These individuals are truly making a difference for blood cancer patients and their families – we’re so grateful. ✨ Learn more about each candidate and their efforts 👉 https://bit.ly/3Sg6Faq

"Discovering I had blood cancer brought a whirlwind of emotions—fear, curiosity about my future, and a belated clarity regarding months of fatigue and breathlessness misattributed to asthma. Seeing lymphoma on my chest X-ray was a relief and anxiety-inducing all at once.

I want other families to understand that they are not alone. They need not feel isolated or helpless, as there are numerous online and local communities, they can join to connect with others facing similar struggles. By uniting and supporting each other, we can make a profound difference in the lives of those affected by blood cancer.

I am pursuing a career in physical medicine and rehabilitation with dreams of helping others who undergo life-changing injuries or illnesses live life to the fullest, regardless of what limitations their conditions may have imposed upon them!”

Since primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma became a part of Luigi’s life, it has inspired him to help others. Share your unique experience and connect with our community here 👉 https://bit.ly/3y7EUK3

Big news for blood cancer patients! 🎉 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for earlier use in treating B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). This immunotherapy offers new hope for adults and children. We’re championing research that harnesses the immune system to treat blood cancer. Learn more 👉 https://bit.ly/3LdGld4

Did you know? 👇

❤️‍🩹 42% of cancer patients exhaust their entire life savings within two years of diagnosis.

❤️‍🩹 1 in 4 cancer patients delay, forgo, or dangerously alter treatment due to cost.

We're dedicated to not only developing life-saving therapies but also ensuring equitable access for all.

Read about our work to tackle healthcare inequities and how we’re providing crucial support to blood cancer patients in need 🔎👉 https://bit.ly/3LgL3Xx

Improving Blood Cancer Survival Takes More than New Drug Discovery | Leukemia and Lymphoma Society In my years as a practicing hematologist-oncologist and now as chief medical officer of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society financial assistance LLS Lobby Day in Washington DC-- With the costs of cutting-edge cancer therapies skyrocketing, forty-two percent...

Let’s give a round of a applause for our 2024 Equity in Access Research Program Grantees! 👏👏👏 We have awarded nearly $6.5 million to uncover and address social, economic, and environmental barriers to blood cancer treatment and care. These efforts aim to inform changes in healthcare policy and practice that may lead to better health outcomes.

🔬 Carma Bylund, PhD & Stephanie Staras, PhD, MPH, University of Florida
🔬 Raymond Mailhot, MD, MPH & Erin Mobley, PhD, MPH, University of Florida
🔬 Shazia Nakhoda, MD, Linda Fleisher, PhD, MPH & Zachary Frosch, MD, MS, Fox Chase Cancer Center
🔬 Anushree Vichare, PhD, MBBS, Clese Erikson, M.P.Aff & Qian “Eric” Luo, PhD, The George Washington University

Support for the LLS Equity in Access Research Program is provided by: Royalty Pharma and AstraZeneca.

Find all the details on our grantees and their ground-breaking work 👉 https://bit.ly/4cV9cPe

That’s a WRAP! ❤️ A special thank you to Subaru of America, Inc. and its retailers for supporting blood cancer patients and families with warmth and hope this June during . 🙌 Together, we distributed countless blankets, care kits, resources, and messages of hope. Subaru matched your generous donations, doubling the impact for blood cancer patients and families.

Parenting a child who has is an experience that changes you forever. And losing that child causes a deep pain that few understand.

At 3, Phil endured treatment variations for his leukemia until all reasonable options were exhausted. And after almost 4 years of this, he passed away.

“Being Phil's mother is a gift I am eternally grateful for. Some days, I still struggle with the reality that we will never understand why this happened.” -Katie, Phil’s mom

No one should have to endure the heartbreak of losing a child to blood cancer. 💔 On , we honor those who have suffered this incredible loss, like Katie, and remember the lives of their babies.

Katie takes “Phil time” to remember her sweet boy and shares his story as an LLS Dare to Dream Ambassador, hoping to continue the efforts to transform treatment and care for all kids with blood cancer. Read Phil and Katie’s story here 👉 https://bit.ly/3XQvNYY

Blood cancer breakthrough! ⭐ The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for certain patients with low- to intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), reducing the need for frequent blood transfusions. This innovative treatment preserves a better quality of life for those living with MDS-related anemia. Learn more about this life-changing development 👉 https://bit.ly/3W8PWHh

What’s a question you wish people would ask you about living with blood cancer?

When you hear - “you have cancer” - life changes. survivors summed up their lives as survivors in just six words. What are your six words? __ __ __ __ __ __​

At every stage of your survivorship experience, we’ve got resources and information to help 👉 https://bit.ly/4eB62ln

Meet our Student Visionaries of the Year! 📣🎉🙌 We’re blown away by these young leaders raising awareness and funds for LLS! 💪✨

🌟 National Student Visionaries of the Year: Team Hope for a Cure (Los Angeles, CA)
👏 Members: Lia Bhatia & Hailey Miller
📈 Impact: $649,124

🌟 National Runner-Up: Team CPA, Secure the Cure (Nashville, TN)
👏 Members: Sophia Crockett & Emma Weaver
📈 Impact: $646,537

🌟 National Team Member of the Year
👏 Andrew Lim, Team Banking for a Cure (Houston, TX)
📈 Impact: $114,553

Congratulations and THANK YOU to our winning teams! You’re paving the way to a brighter future! 🌍❤️ Learn more about our Student Visionary winners 👉 https://bit.ly/3XGox1q

A blood cancer diagnosis can feel isolating. But that’s why we are here—to bring together resources and a community of support. Together, we are better. ​

At 10, Nik was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Confined to a hospital bed for months, he grappled with loneliness, infections, and side effects from medications. Now 17 years after completing treatment, he's stronger than ever. Throughout his experience with blood cancer, Nik found The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), and with it, solace in connecting with fellow patients and families, and hope for the future. “I'm proud to be part of the LLS family,” he shares. ​

Your donations during June will be matched by Subaru, doubling the impact for kids like Nik! Donate now, and your donation will go 2x as far! 👉 https://bit.ly/45Futdb

YOU can be the change! ❤️ By starting a fundraiser with LLS, you can bring hope and brighter futures to those affected by blood cancer. Every effort counts – let’s do this, together 👉 https://bit.ly/4bprTsW

YOU can bring light to the darkness of cancer this fall by joining us at an LLS Light The Night event! ✨ Our colored lanterns represent:

🤍 Celebrating patients & survivors
❤️ Supporting friends and family
💛 Honoring loved ones lost to blood cancer

We hope to see you there! ❤️ Find a Light The Night event near you and register today 👉 ​https://bit.ly/3KYtjjx