Kiernan Smith

2015 LLS woMan of the Year Candidate

Robert Brown

2016 LLS man of the Year winner

Cade James Bittner

2018 LLS Man of the Year winner

Lyndsey Danberry

2019 LLS Woman of the Year candidate All-Star Campaign

Lyndsey Danberry was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) in June of 1994. After three years of chemotherapy and radiation, she was lucky enough to call herself a survivor. But luck is no longer enough, Lyndsey wants more, she wants better for others.

Scott Olmsted

2019 lls Man of the Year Candidate

In January of 2011, Scott was diagnosed with blood cancer. He was a 36-year-old father of two young girls and along with his wife, Michelle they spent the year battling Stage IV Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Their young family was faced with the devastating reality of a terminal diagnosis.

Robert Brown

2020 LLS man of the Year candidate All-Star Campaign

Robert was only 20 years old when he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. According to current literature from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, “AML is a difficult disease to cure. A few decades ago almost no adults with AML were cured.” Even today, overall five-year survival rates for AML are only only marginally better than they were in 1990.

Robert said, “I was one of the lucky ones. For that – and for three subsequent decades without any lingering complications or long-term health issues – I will always be incredibly grateful.”

We were proud to help Robert tell his story in the 2020 LLS Man of the Year All-Star Campaign.

Heidi Gusenius

2021 Woman of the Year Campaign

Leukemia Strikes Twice

Heidi was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at just 24 years old. As a newlywed with her entire life ahead of her, she began intense inpatient chemotherapy the very day her diagnosis was confirmed. She lived cancer-free for 12 years and during that time was blessed with two beautiful children, Rylan and Mari. In 2017, Heidi was again faced with an AML diagnosis with different cell mutations as the first, leading her oncologist to tell her, “It’s like being struck by lightning twice”.

Heidi achieved remission for a second time and is telling her story and running for Woman of the Year 2021 so that no one else has to face what she’s had to. Consider donating to Heidi’s campaign to help save lives and find a cure for blood cancers.

Kevin Bjerke

2022 LLS Man of the Year candidate

Tyler eichorst

2023 LLS visionary of the Year candidate

A MESSAGE FROM TYLER: “I firmly believing that one story, when shared, has the power to change the world. That guiding principal led me to one fateful afternoon when Kiernan Smith, whom I had just met, who had just lost her husband to Acute Myeloid Leukemia, with 3 year old twins to raise, opened up and shared her story with me. It wasn't an easy story to tell, but that wasn't for me to decide as she spoke with such emotion and drive to honor her husband that no questions were even needed. Her film helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for her Woman of the Year campaign and has since raised millions, yes, millions more.

Kiernan’s story not only inspired others to donate to LLS but inspired me to continue to tell the stories of other survivors, fighters and families battling blood cancer. Since then, we’ve continued sponsoring candidates, and in 2023 I ran my own campaign for LLS Visionary of the Year, raising over $50,000.

We are proud to do our small part in the fight against cancer.”

Kara casteel

2024 LLS Visionary of the year candidate

This year, we're proud to help Kara Casteel in her run towards 2024 Visionary of the Year. Kara is a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor who has been supporting LLS ever since she finished her own battle with cancer.

LLS National | 70th anniversary Films

warrior jake

When Jake and Ben Rodriguez were two years old, their mom, Erika, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Erika passed away due to complications from her AML. Sam Rodriguez (Jake and Ben’s dad) met Katie through LLS. Sam and Katie got married while still keeping Erika’s memory alive through their twin boys and LLS. In Fall 2018, Jake started having trouble breathing and a trip to urgent care revealed a large mass on his chest x-ray. Jake was admitted to Children’s Hospital with T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. The Rodriguez family continues to fight in honor of Jake and in memory of Erika.

LLS National | 70th anniversary Films

The breyfogle family

Twice the fight

The Breyfogle family’s world flipped upside down when their twin daughters were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Kenedi is a survivor and Kendal passed away from complications of AML at just 2 years old. The family continues to tell their story to help the many others in their situation. They continue to include Kendal-bear in all family activities and honor her memory everyday.

LLS National | 70th anniversary Films

The pearson family

Peter Pearson was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2013. After rounds of treatment he was declared cancer-free only for the cancer to return 2 additional times. Each time the cancer returned, there were new treatment protocols he was able to use. Those new treatments were from the work of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. They provided the family hope in difficult times. Peter has now been in remission and cancer free since 2017! The family now continues to help within LLS to find a cure for blood cancers.