I was asked to participate in an amazing philanthropic cycle event, Velo Palmetto, right here in Greenville this fall.  I decided to join Velo here in my hometown as an opportunity to share how that experience has made an impact on me -on how important empathy is and how hard it is to truly know what those who are fighting cancer and their loved one’s experience.

I was diagnosed with stage 2 multiple myeloma when I was newly single and raising young twins. I was in a lot of pain, but also tried to maintain normalcy for as much my kids and to my sanity.  I had a successful bone marrow transplant in 2015, and was put on maintenance medications.  Unfortunately, my myeloma came back and found myself needing another bone marrow transplant in 2018.  This transplant was a little easier, as I had bone marrow saved from the first treatment and I was good….until 2023 when my oncologist told me my numbers were going up and my cancer had returned.  Since you can only have 2 bone marrow transplants in a lifetime, I didn’t know what I was going to do and honestly, told my doctor I was giving up.  I had my moment, then decided to fight again and found out LLS has a new treatment called CAR-T that I am currently in line to get.  

I will be taking on this 3-day ride in Greenville, SC, this October alongside other passionate, cancer-fighting athletes. Our team goal is to raise $20,000 which will go directly to LLS in support of its longstanding goal: a world without blood cancers.

 This event is a fantastic way to raise awareness on the support and advocacy that LLS provides to patients and family members. There are many reasons to be proud to support LLS’s efforts.  For instance, approximately 40% of new cancer therapies approved by the FDA since 2000 were first approved for blood cancer patients.  And many of these LLS-supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients but they have also led to a tremendous number of advances in many other types of cancers, like bone, brain, and breast. Your contribution will have rippling effects across the entire cancer landscape. 

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 are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. They'll not only support LLS research but patient services, advocacy, public and professional education, and community services as well.

Please visit my Web site often and bring friends who would also like to donate!

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere I thank you for your support!
For more information about LLS, please visit lls.org