Hello Win Column Ticket Recipients

In a previous post we introduced you to the Hello Win Column Fund and how it is sending blood cancer patients and survivors to Rangers games with their families.  Today's post is dedicated to honoring those North Texas families that have already taken advantage of this opportunity, courtesy of Texas Rangers Hall of Fame announcer Mark Holtz's family.

The Rangers tickets gave Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament co-founder Bob Barker (center left) and his wife, Deborah a chance to meet Terry McElwee (center right) and his wife, Karen.  Terry has follicular lymphoma and Bob is in remission from acute myelogenous leuemia (AML).  The game gave both couples an opportunity to bond over their respective treatments and enjoy a night out at Globe Life Park.

15 year old Zach Steger, who is currently battling Hodgkin's lymphoma and Spina Bifida, was able to take his mind off his medical challenges by heading to a game with his mom and two brothers.  They used the opportunity to celebrate the end of STARS testing at school.

We are so thankful to the Hello Win Column Fund to help us celebrate the amazing folks we have the honor to work with right here in North Texas.

Go Rangers!

Wordless Wednesday: Dallas Stars at Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament

National Volunteer Week: Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament

Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another. 

~Erma Bombeck

Matthew Willis (second from the left) with his foresome in
the 2011 Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament.

This week is National Volunteer Week and while The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is thankful for its volunteers year round, we are taking this opportunity to highlight seven outstanding volunteers that help make the North Texas chapter run so efficiently.

Matthew Willis, while one of the youngest golfers at the Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament, is the top fundraiser year after year.  He consistently raises more than $12,000 in honor of his father, Jim Willis, one of the tournament co-founders. 

Jim was diagnosed with leukemia in 1994 when his wife was pregnant with Matthew.  They already had a two year old daughter.  During treatment Jim met Bob Barker, another golfer who was also battling leukemia.  The two decided to combine their love of golf with their leukemia battle and created the Links Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Shortly after the inaugural tournament, Jim lost his battle with leukemia.  Bob is living cancer-free and is still very involved in the tournament, serving on the planning committee of the tournament. 

May 6, 2013 will mark the 17th year of the tournament and even though Matthew was very young when his father died, he raises funds and participates each year in his father's memory.  The tournament has raised more than $2.3 million since its inception and Matthew has played a large role in reaching that impressive milestone.

We are thankful for Matthew!