Aug 21, 2016
WELCOME TO LEIGH'S TEAM IN TRAINING HOME PAGE!
On May 21, 2015, my cousin Mike’s ten year old daughter, Haley, was diagnosed with High Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and the journey with ALL began. I have joined TEAM HALEY. We are a group of family and friends who are participating in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training program and we have a goal of raising $100,000 for LLS. If we reach this goal, LLS will give us the opportunity to put the money raised directly towards the childhood leukemia research portfolio and Haley's name will be honorably linked to it. I will be doing the Las Vegas Half Marathon in Haley’s honor! I will be running alongside my cousin Mike. Haley and the rest of the family will be cheering us on.
Haley has endured over 100 rounds of intravenous chemotherapy, 25 spinal tap chemotherapy injections, hundreds of oral chemotherapy doses at home, 5 blood transfusions, and spent over 70 days in the hospital. She endured hair loss twice, weight gain and weight loss. Haley is now in the maintenance phase of treatment which lasts for two years and includes oral chemotherapy daily and chemotherapy through her port once a month at the clinic. We still have four years until the doctors will tell us that Haley is “cured.”
Thanks to organizations like LLS that fund groundbreaking research, the survival rate for children with ALL increased from less than 5% in the 1960’s to a survival rate of over 92% today. To quote Haley’s Mom, Kressent: “Now 92% sounds pretty good, right? However, when it's your child and there is an 8% chance that they may not survive, I for one, do not like that. I want to live in a world where I can say "there is a 100% cure rate for childhood cancer!!!!"
ALL is the most common cancer in children. Many children can be cured with intensive multi-drug treatments, but these can have debilitating side effects. More effective and less toxic therapies are urgently needed for patients of all ages.
I am fighting for Haley and other blood cancer patients! I want Haley to know that I’ve done everything I can to help find a cure for childhood leukemia.
Every dollar makes a difference! Thank you for your support!!
Here is a short video of Haley’s journey with ALL:
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is a global leader in the fight against cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all monetary donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by tax laws. Please check with your financial advisor if you have more questions.