Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Presents Laguna Niguel Cancer Survivor with “Living Life Large” Award
LAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIF., June 12, 2009 – The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Orange County/Inland Empire Chapter (LLS) presented Russ Parker of Laguna Niguel, a cancer survivor, with its 2009 Sheila Field Living Life Large Award. In 2004, Parker was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), and given a 20-30% chance to survive more than six months. He underwent aggressive medical treatment to battle the disease, including a stem cell transplantation at the City of Hope. LLS helped fund significant research grants that have produced some of the blood cancer breakthrough therapies responsible for saving hundreds of thousands of lives, including Parker’s life.
“Russ is a daily reminder that cancer can be beat,” observed Janine Ingram, LLS’ Executive Director, who presented the award at the Chapter’s Man-Woman of the Year finale dinner at the Fairmont Hotel, Irvine, on June 5.
For the past three years, Parker has been an active LLS volunteer, including raising an astonishing $165,000 for cancer research in the 2007 Man of the Year competition. The Living Life Large Award was named for Sheila Field, who battled multiple myeloma for more than a decade. She was an active volunteer and advocate until her death on February 5 of this year. Parker was a friend and former co-worker of Field’s.
Upon accepting the Living Life Large Award, Parker noted that his family foundation would donate $2,500 to set up The Sheila Field Multiple Myeloma Fund that will provide treatment information to patients and their families and fund research.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. The mission of LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested more than $600 million for research specifically targeting blood cancers. The Society’s Orange County/Inland Empire chapter office is located at 2020 East 1st Street, Suite 120, Santa Ana, CA 92705. Phone: (714) 881-0610. Website: www.lls.org.
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Submitted By;
Jim Graves
