Illinois City Rallying Around Man with NHL

It's never easy, having to battle cancer, but Kevin Huyser is facing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for the third time now, and it's especially tough for him. Both he and his wife aren't working while he undergoes chemotherapy this time.

But his town and his neighbors are doing what they can for him. An optician at Sam's paid for his eye exam when she learned of his situation and helped to set up benefits for him soon after. The CEO of Culver's restaurant even showed up at one recently.

I hope you all will send your thoughts and prayers Kevin's way.

Haunted Party Raises Money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Carol Woods is no stranger to the horrors of cancer. She lost her uncle and brother to the disease. Her 53-year-old brother-in-law is currently battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Frustrated by the devastation brought on by cancer, Carol decided to begin a fund-raising operation for the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Instead of organizing a marathon or a bake sale, Carol decided to go for something a little bit spookier: a haunted costume party. On October 23, she held the 5th annual haunted costume ball for cancer research, complete with a costume contest, raffles and live music. Now that's celebrating the Halloween season with a healthy dose of activism! To view photos of this event, click here.

The Calendar Girls Bare All for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

In the 1998, Angela Baker's husband battled non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The British woman and her friends spent enough time in the hospital that they began dreaming up ways to fund blood cancer research. The result of their brainstorming was a modestly naughty calendar featuring women posed nude while performing daily, domestic activities.

The calendar took off and the women quickly became known as the Calendar Girls. "By December of 1999, just nine months after its launch, the calendar had sold 88,000 copies, and raised some $550,000 for leukemia research. That number has grown significantly since then, especially after Workman Publishing released an American version of the calendar" (www.chasingthefrog.com). The story of these unsuspecting models caught on, and in 2003, a highly acclaimed film adaptation was released. In 2008, a theatrical version also debuted in the form of a stage play.

Angela lost her husband to NHL just five months after his diagnosis, but she has gone on to be a tremendously passionate spokesperson and activist for NHL funding. According to the official Calendar Girls website,

Angela sums up the extraordinary story of the Calendar Girls: “I think that we’ve all coped really well with what has happened. We’ve done the most amazing things but we’ve kept our feet on the ground and we’ve never forgotten why we did what we did. We didn’t do the calendar because we wanted to be famous but because we wanted to raise money in John’s memory. It has been the most marvellous experience.”

Benefit Run Needs Your Help

Elizabeth Naylor is a middle school teacher in Hull, Massachusetts. When she was diagnosed with NHL, she took a medical leave of absence from her job. She did not, however, allow herself to succumb to pessimism or self-pity. According to The Patriot Ledger,

“I realized I could be bitter and negative or be positive, optimistic and hopeful,” Naylor said in an interview. “I have an enormous support system of family and friends, who have made it easier to remember why I was fighting for my life.”

Now she's out to help others and has organized the Team Elizabeth 4-Mile Run, which will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The event is set for October 24th, but Naylor is still looking for business sponsors. Click here to learn more about registering for the event.

If you cannot participate in the race, but would like to donate, make checks payable to "The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society" and mailing it to: Susannah Hamblin, 30B Pearson Avenue, Somerville, MA 02144

Lacrosse for a Cause

Eastern's lacrosse match on October 10 is about more than just the game. This event, the 44th annual Nick Colleuori Classic, will honor the Ridley High School student who was passed away from NHL. All of the proceeds of the tournament go to the HEADstrong Foundation.

According the HEADstrong Foundation's mission statement, HEADstrong is dedicated to raising money for cancer research, to give grants and help to cancer survivors and to financially assist those looking to enter the medical field.

The HEADstrong Foundation was envisioned by the late Colleuori. He drew the HEADstrong logo - a lacrosse stick on the inside and a cancer ribbon around the head - while waiting to enter the operating room. On November 28, 2006, Colleuori lost his life at the age of 21. (The Waltonian)

What a Great Boyfriend!

When Sheryl was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2007, her boyfriend Martin Laver was there to stand by her side. He cared for her into recovery, and a few months later she her cancer went into remission. Then they got married, but Martin didn't stop there.

He organized a 900-mile bicycle ride with three of his friends. The trip took ten days to complete and they covered the entire stretch of the British Isles. Cumulatively, they "helped raise £14,000 for Cancer Research and the Lymphoma Trust Fund at City Hospital," the hospital where Sheryl received care.

To find out more about the group Martin founded, or to donate to the cause, click here.