Light The Night T-Shirt Competition

The 2016 Light The Night t-shirt competition starts today!  The North Texas Chapter is honored to be home to a past t-shirt design winner as well as a finalist and we would love to have another finalist from our area this year.  The winning entry will be on the front of hundreds of thousands of participant and survivor t-shirts at walk sites across the country this fall!

Below are the submission guidelines:

• Design must be inspired by the Light The Night Walk (LTN) or the mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)
• Design only the front of a plain t-shirt
• Must visibly and clearly include the LLS/LTN logo lockup (example below)
• Up to three different designs will be accepted, but they must be submitted as separate entries
• Design must be wholly original

A full list of submission guidelines can be found here.   Once your design is completed, submit your artwork online here.

Designs will be judged on the following criteria:

• Concept/originality
• Captures the spirit of the LTN Walk
• Striking and memorable design
• Eye-catching and visible from a reasonable distance
• Completeness of design - must be ready for print

Additional information about design specifications can be found here. 

All designs but be submitted by 2:00 p.m. (CST) on Friday, March 18th on the LTN Facebook page.

There are two rounds of voting.  During the first round, two designs will be chosen by a panel of LLS staff.  The two winning designs will then be posted on the Light The Night Facebook page where page fans can vote online.  The design with the most number of votes will be selected.

If you have any questions about the process, please contact your local staff at (972) 996-5926.

Our fingers are crossed for another North Texas finalist! 

#MAD4LLS

NTX Executive Director Patricia Thomson and her pup,
Sunny, are both #MAD4LLS. 

Have you seen all the MAD (MAD = Make A Difference) faces on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram lately?  Want to know what it means to be #MAD4LLS and how you can get involved?  Read the description below, give us your best scowl, donate at www.mad4lls.org, and invite your friends to get #MAD4LLS too! 

Mission Committee: Call to Action

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is calling for volunteers to join us as we launch the

Mission Task Force

a collective group of volunteers, who through a series of actions and tasks, will help create awareness and carry out the mission of LLS. 

Come to the first informational meeting to find out more.

Read below for a snapshot of some of the things you can get involved with. 

WHEN:
Tuesday, November 11th

WHERE:
LLS Office
8111 LBJ Fwy., Ste 425 Dallas, TX

TIME:

6:30 p.m.

Light snacks will be served.

RSVP:
 Campbell Weber
 Volunteer Development Associate
 Campbell.Weber@lls.org
(972) 996-5914 
 

Blood Cancer Awareness Month
This committee is responsible for building a number of events around LLS Blood Cancer Awareness Month in September.  The focus is to raise awareness of LLS and its mission through a number of different channels.  Requesting and receiving proclamations from North Texas mayors and city councils is the priority.  The goal is to have an Honored Hero or a volunteer with a mission connection speak at different city council meetings - when receiving the proclamation in person.  Additional activities include, but are not limited to, lining up third party events to benefit LLS, creating partnerships in the community to place LLS materials in stores and restaurants, the sale of paper LLS icons at point of purchase, etc.

Public Outreach
This committee is responsible for brainstorming and implementing opportunities for Public Outreach. This can include expo tables at North Texas health fairs and exhibits and staffing it with volunteers who are comfortable speaking about LLS, and its programs and services in North Texas.  The group should identify ways to create a dynamic display that will catch people’s attention.  In addition, this group should secure honored heroes to speak at the following events: School & Youth assemblies, Light The Night kick-offs and launch parties, third party events, Team In Training kickoffs, inspiration lunches and trainings.  This group would also seek out speaking opportunities to include Rotary Clubs, Chamber events, Business Associations, Community Forums, etc.

LLS Mission Exhibits
This committee is responsible for designing, creating and staffing a dynamic and interactive  exhibit (or booth, depending on event) at every LLS-run event.  Volunteers must be adept at speaking about LLS, what’s happening in North Texas and ways to get involved.  The goal is to create a space that is a destination for the public to find out how they can get more involved with the North Texas Chapter.  There are approximately 16 LLS events a year including but not limited to the Light the Night Walks, Big D Climb, Blood Cancer Conference, St. Valentines Day Luncheon, and TNT Kickoffs, that will need to be staffed.

Lone Star Blood Cancer Conference
This committee is responsible for helping to plan, man and execute the volunteer component of the Lone Star Blood Cancer Conference in late February.  This group works with the North Texas Patient Access Manager to recruit survivors for panel discussions, reach out to the North Texas patient database and encourage them to attend, help promote and assist in the execution on the day of.  This group also helps to promote the event through grassroots marketing efforts, social media, etc.

Patient Outreach
This committee is responsible for reaching out to blood cancer patients who have contacted the North Texas office, in an effort to keep them engaged.  This group will also recruit, train and serve as First Connection volunteers, plan and execute Remembrance Ceremonies at the Light The Night Walks, and steward and cultivate honored heroes before and after their engagement opportunities. 

Campbell Weber: New Volunteer Coordinator

The North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is pleased to introduce you to Campbell Weber.  He recently joined the North Texas LLS family and is the new Volunteer Coordinator.  Campbell has extensive experience working with volunteers, blood cancer and is a really great guy.  He is already hard at work lining up volunteers for the 2014 Light The Night Walks.  Reach out and say hi when you see him at an upcoming event.  In the meantime, he answered a couple questions so you can get to know him better.

Do you have a connection to blood cancers and LLS?

Unfortunately both of my grandmothers passed away from blood cancers in the last few years, which was very hard for my family.  My mother and my aunt had gotten very involved with LLS and decided to embark on the Team In Training Grand Canyon hike a few years ago.  The two of them raised a very impressive amount of money for the campaign (more than $20,000!) and it was a great tribute to my grandmothers.  With the deaths in our family and the very inspiring story of a family friend that is a blood cancer survivor because of an LLS-funded trial, I decided to get involved with the organization and was a proud sponsor of the Light The Night Walk in San Antonio.  I always thought it would be cool to work for LLS and raise money to fight the cancers that my grandmothers passed from.  It's pretty neat that I am now fulfilling that dream and I know they'd be proud.

What is your favorite fact or stat about LLS and our research?

My favorite fact is: to date, LLS has invested more than $1 billion in research to advance therapies and save lives.

You are have extensive experience in working with volunteers.  Why do you enjoy it?

I enjoy working with volunteers because a volunteer is working toward a mission out of pure pride.  Volunteers work their tails off because they want to be there and they want to help in any way they can.  How could I not enjoy working with people like that?

What do you want people to know about you when they meet you?

I'm a very happy and optimistic guy.

If you had an extra $100, how would you spend it?

Probably end up buying something for my wife!

If you would like to volunteer or just say hi to Campbell, you can contact him at campbell.weber@lls.org or (972) 996-5914.

Mission Monday: Advocate for Children

Each year, 13,500 children are diagnosed with cancer. We can help them.

The Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act of 2013 would take the revenue from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and reassign it to the National Institute of Health to improve treatments for childhood cancer, diabetes, and many other pediatric diseases.

We need 200 co-sponsors to make this bill a reality – CLICK HERE see where your Representative stands and send your message below:

"As an advocate with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I want to thank you for signing on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 2019, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act. 

Each year, over 140,000 Americans are newly diagnosed with blood cancers, accounting for nearly 10 percent of all newly diagnosed cancers in the United States. Among them are more than 13,500 children who will face cancer in the coming year -- far too many, especially when we can do something to help them.

That’s why I’m writing to you today to thank you for co-sponsoring the Kids First Research Act of 2013, which will increase funding for pediatric medical research activities administered through the Common Fund at the National Institutes of Health. By turning off the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and instead designating this revenue to expand pediatric disease research, we can get closer to a cure for blood cancers and for many other childhood diseases, all within the current budget.

Thanks again for supporting H.R. 2019."

Thank you for helping us create a world without blood cancers.

Freebie Friday: Celebrating Male Survivors

November has come to represent more than Thanksgiving and the kick-off of the Christmas season in the United States.  For many, November has transformed into Movember - a month about raising awareness of men's health issues.  Here at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) we are taking this month as an opportunity to celebrate male blood cancer survivors.

CELEBRATING SURVIVORS

Today Zach Rigby is a senior at the University of Texas, the Vice President of the Silver Spurs (a student organization dedicated to the care of Bevo), and most importantly, a survivor.  Zach was diagnosed with adult Hodgkin's lymphoma on his 16th birthday.  After a difficult treatment plan, he was declared to be in remission and has been living an active, healthy lifestyle ever since.

Zach's father, Steve Rigby, is currently the chairman of the North Texas Board of Trustees.  Recently the Rigby family hosted Bevo at a fundraiser before the University of Texas vs. New Mexico State game and raised $7,500 at the event for pediatric blood cancer research.

We are thrilled to count Zach among the thousands of blood cancer survivors in North Texas.

Freebie Friday: Meet Margo Gary

This is me at around mile 12 at Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco in 2011 – my very first Team In Training (TNT) event.  I look so happy because it is downhill and I’m closing in on the finish. Little did I know this was just the beginning!

Did I find Team In Training or did it find me? Good question! I actually believe TNT found me. I had heard of TNT and even received the flyers but I never felt the need to check it out until March 2011. When one came in the mail I actually looked at it and Nike San Francisco was one of the events. My mom was from San Francisco and had recently passed away from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In fact her ashes were put in the Bay in December 2010. I didn’t need to be hit with a ton of bricks to know I had to do this in memory of her.

That first season with TNT literally changed my life. I met the most wonderful people, heard the most inspiring stories from and about our Honored Heroes, learned about research funded by LLS, and found out about treatment and drugs that would not be available without the dollars TNT raised. All of the helplessness and anger I had felt during my mother’s illness could be channeled into a positive activity. I signed up for a second season and a third season and am now registered for the upcoming BOA Chicago Marathon.

Not only do I actively support Team In Training as a participant but I work in the Fort Worth office as a Team In Training Campaign Specialist.

Join me this Winter Season by joining the TEAM!  We are headed to some exciting races in memorable locations.

El Tour de Tucson Cycle Century Ride - November 23, 2013
Metro PCS Dallas Half and Full Marathon - December 8, 2013
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend - January 9-12, 2014
Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans - February 2, 2014

Sign up today and find out how Team In Training will change your life too!

https://www.teamintraining.org/ntx/firsttimehere/signup.

 

　

Freebie Friday: Meet Greg Clarkson, President of the North Texas Board of Trustees

Greg and his son, Ryan, volunteering the
morning of the 2013 Big D Climb

Greg Clarkson, President of the North Texas Board of Trustees, shares in his own words why he is involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.



We are all called to volunteer at some time during our lives. I urge you to answer the calling. It is an opportunity to use your talents and resources in a way that helps your neighbor, your community, or a stranger in need. My calling was to the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). I am finishing my sixth year as a member of the Board of Trustees and serving my final year as President of the Board. As I make the transition from an active Board member to the Advisory Board, I have taken a moment to reflect on how I became involved with the Society and it's mission to cure blood cancer.

I have not personally had the pain of losing a family member to blood cancer or any cancer for that matter. Prior to becoming a Board member, I did not know anyone that had leukemia or lymphoma nor did I even know that these were afflictions of the blood. I didn't spend much time in hospitals or around doctors or sick people. I am in the banking industry and manage a nationwide small business lending unit for BBVA Compass in Dallas Texas. Our bank used LLS' Light the Night function as our annual employee participation event. This gave our employees a chance to raise money for a charitable cause while remembering friends and family members that had been impacted by the disease. We would all gather with other fundraisers during an October evening and literally Light the Night with glowing balloons honoring those who have fought the cancer fight. This is how it started for me.

After meeting the LLS staff at the North Texas Chapter I knew that these were the people that had the energy and the desire to tirelessly fundraise, educate, and work for the cause. After meeting the scientists and doctors, I knew that this was the cutting edge research at the headwaters of all cancer breakthroughs. This is a disease that can attack anybody at anytime. There is no early warning, no lifestyle change, no preventive maintenance. There is only the need for a cure. So, we volunteers reach out to our friends, family, co-workers, customers, and communities, to help us raise funds for research and a cure. We ask for time, we ask for money, we ask for donation items, or we ask for a moment to tell you about someone that has touched our lives. If not by their name, at least by the way we remember the expression on their face as they traveled on their cancer journey.

During my tenure, I have seen things that would make your hair stand up on end and I have seen things that would make your hair fall out. I have seen the hair grow back and the smiles return. I have seen life renewed and living regained. I have seen the dedication and selflessness of healthcare workers, volunteers, fundraisers, researchers, and legislative advocates. I have seen family and friends, young and old, search for the words to answer the question "why me?".  I volunteered to fill a need and that need remains great.

If you feel it is time to volunteer, don't wait any longer. Even if you have not been personally impacted by blood cancer or fear you cannot make a difference, I can assure you that your efforts will be honored. It is the most rewarding thing you will experience. So take the first step and give T

This month The Dallas Morning News ran an article about a breakthrough treatment that cured a particularly nasty form of leukemia in a few patients. The article was a reminder that everyday somebody is being cured of blood cancer. Someday, everybody will be cured of blood cancer. Let's make that someday, today.