Writer / Matt Keating
Photographer / Demi Lawrence
Jason Llewellyn is looking for a few good donors, and he needs your help.
Llewellyn, a Fishers resident, is running for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Man of the Year program, hoping to raise more than $100,000 for LLS cancer research. Each year, in communities across the country, dedicated candidates engage in an exciting competition to earn the LLS “Man & Woman of the Year” titles.
Llewellyn, a CPA, said one of his first clients, Jim Ficher, was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago.
“Jim has become a very good friend over the years,” Llewellyn said. “He was the ideal picture of a healthy person in retirement. He played softball, tennis and traveled quite a bit. It was hard to believe such an active person would become sick.”
Llewellyn was approached to join the Man of the Year program by Jill Petuzzi, a member of the LLS board of directors.
“Jill asked me to think about it, and I said there was nothing to think about,” Llewellyn said. “I immediately said I would love to do it. I jumped at the invitation to run for Man of the Year.”
Every dollar raised during the campaign counts as one vote and the titles of Man and Woman of the Year are awarded to the two candidates with the most votes at the end of 10 weeks. Candidates form their own teams can use their own contacts and creativity to raise funds.
“Things for the campaign are already starting to take off,” Llewellan said. “I’m establishing a team of people and starting to secure corporate sponsorships. The program has grown a lot. There were 14 candidates last year and over a million dollars was raised.”
The 2017 campaign runs from March 10 to May 13 and includes recruiting corporate sponsorships. A gala with a live and silent auction will be held on May 13 at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Indianapolis.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS’s mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.
Through programs like Man & Woman of the Year, LLS has invested more than $1 billion in research to advance breakthrough therapies. Almost half of the new anti-cancer drugs approved by the U.S. FDA from 2000 through 2013 were originally designed to treat blood cancers, and LLS helped advance most of them.
“The amount of work they do is amazing,” Llewellyn added.
Although someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer every three minutes, there is great hope for the future, according to the LLS. Through funds raised by generous supports, there are more research, patient aid, education and advocacy programs made available.
“Every dollar raised really does make a difference,” Llewellyn said.
If you are interested in donating money to Llewellyn’s campaign, or getting involved, contact him at jason@holisticfinancialpartners.com. To get involved in the 2017 LLS Indianapolis Man & Woman of the Year Campaign, please contact Elissa Evernham at elissa.evernham@lls.org for additional information.
