Latest news with #LeukemiaLymphomaSociety
CTV News
a day ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Northern Ont. bikers smash $14K target in leukemia awareness ride
Sudbury motorcyclists completed a 1,000-mile charity ride over the weekend, raising more than $19,000 - surpassing their $14,000 goal - for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Organized by Dave Beauparlant, the riders made the gruelling trek from Sudbury to Thunder Bay and back to Sault Ste. Marie. The group says they will continue to accept donations until October.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Northern Ont. motorcyclists cruise 1,000 miles for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
More than a dozen riders embarked on Sudbury's first 1,000-mile motorcycle charity ride Friday, raising over $14,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. More than a dozen motorcycle enthusiasts from Greater Sudbury took off for a long journey Friday morning. They're part of the 1000-Mile Ride Challenge for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. It's the first event of its kind and was organized by Dave and Crystal Beauparlant. Dave was diagnosed with leukemia in December 2023. He said his health is day-to-day, but he wanted to combine his love of motorcycles with a cause close to his heart. 'A thousand-mile ride is not an easy challenge, but cancer at the end of the day gets in the way of anything,' said Dave. 'There's not much awareness out there for leukemia. And being in northern Ontario, I find there's not enough compared to the big cities… This is why we're doing it to Thunder Bay and back.' The group left from The Rock Harley Davidson dealership Friday, where Dave's son, Ben works. 1000-mile ride More than a dozen motorcycle enthusiasts from Greater Sudbury took off from The Rock Harley Davidson dealership on Long Lake Road in Greater Sudbury, Ont., on July 11, 2025 to begin a 1,000 mile ride in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. (Angela Gemmill/CTV News Northern Ontario) They plan to drive to the Terry Fox Memorial in Thunder Bay and then return to Sault Ste. Marie early Saturday morning. The entire 1,000 miles is estimated to take about 18 hours. Ben predicted the journey would be tough, speaking with CTV News on Friday. 'It's going to be hard, but no matter what, we're going to do it. We're going to come out on top,' he said. 'Being up for that amount of time and being on the bike - two wheels especially, you've got to keep your balance. So, it's going to be rough on the body, but you just got to keep positive.' There is help available just in case – a chase truck stocked with snacks, drinks and Gerry cans of fuel in case some of the smaller gas tanks run dry. Dave's cousin Steve Beauparlant volunteered to drive that chase truck. 'It's nice that I can be here able to support and even if I can't ride a bike, well, it doesn't mean I can't be there with the truck and fuel and everything else,' Steve said. According to Dave this first-ever event has been able to raise more than $14,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. The Beauparlant family hopes it becomes an annual event for the north.
Health Line
08-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Survival Rates and Outlook for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
Key takeaways Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a fast-growing cancer primarily affecting children. It has high cure rates in this group, though survival rates are lower for adults but gradually improving. Factors influencing survival rates include age at diagnosis, subtype of ALL, and how quickly a patient responds to treatment, with younger patients and certain subtypes generally having better outcomes. People with subtypes such as pre-B, common, or early pre-B generally have better outcomes compared to those with mature B-cell (Burkitt) leukemia or certain chromosomal abnormalities. Coping strategies for ALL patients include seeking support from healthcare teams, utilizing resources from organizations like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and considering complementary treatments to manage stress and improve quality of life. What is acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)? Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a form of cancer. Each part of its name tells you something about the cancer itself: Acute. The cancer is often fast-growing and requires early detection and treatment. Without treatment, bone marrow cells can't properly mature, and a person won't have enough healthy, mature bone marrow. Bone marrow is replaced by rapidly growing abnormal lymphocytes. Lymphocytic. The cancer affects the lymphocytes of a person's white blood cells (WBCs). Another term that may be used is lymphoblastic. Leukemia. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells. Several types of ALL exist. The survival rates for ALL depend on what type a person has. ALL is the most common childhood cancer, but it has high cure rates in children. Although survival rates aren't as high when it develops in adults, they're steadily improving. What are the survival rates for ALL? The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates 5,960 people will receive a diagnosis of ALL in the United States in 2018. About 1,470 people will die from the disease in 2018. Several factors can determine survival rates, such as age at diagnosis and subtype of ALL. The five-year survival rate in the United States is 68.1 percent, reports the NCI. However, these numbers are steadily improving. From 1975 to 1976, the five-year survival rate for all ages was under 40 percent. Although most people who receive a diagnosis of ALL are children, the highest percentage of Americans with ALL who pass away are between the ages of 65 and 74. In general, about 40 percent of adults with ALL are considered cured at some point during their treatment, estimates American Cancer Society. However, these cure rates depend on a variety of factors, such as the subtype of ALL and age at diagnosis. A person is 'cured' of ALL if they're in complete remission for five years or more. But because there's a chance of the cancer coming back, doctors can't say with 100 percent certainty that a person is cured. The most they can say is whether or not there are signs of cancer at the time. In children According to the NCI, the five-year survival rate for American children with ALL is around 85 percent. This means that 85 percent of Americans with childhood ALL live at least five years after they receive a diagnosis with cancer. Survival rates for ALL, especially for children, continue to improve over time as new treatments are developed. Doctors may consider many of these children to be cured of their cancer if they've been in complete remission for more than five years. Remission means that there are reduced signs and symptoms of the cancer. Remission can be partial or complete. In complete remission, you have no signs and symptoms of the cancer. ALL can return following remission, but treatment can begin again. The NCI states that among American children with ALL, an estimated 98 percent achieve remission. Remission means a child doesn't have any signs or symptoms of the condition and blood cell counts are within normal limits. What factors influence survival rate? A number of factors can affect a person's survival rate following an ALL diagnosis, such as a person's age or WBC count at time of diagnosis. Doctors consider each of these factors when providing a person's outlook. However, it's important to remember that this outlook is the doctor's estimation of survival given the diagnostic information they currently have. What effect does age have on survival rate? According to the NCI, some studies have found that people have a better chance of survival if they're 35 years old or under. In general, older adults with ALL will typically have a poorer outlook than younger people. Children are considered higher risk if they're over age 10. What effect does ALL type have on survival rate? People with cell subtypes, including pre-B, common, or early pre-B, are generally considered to have better survival chances than those with mature B-cell (Burkitt) leukemia. Chromosomal abnormalities Many different types of ALL exist. The cancers that cause ALL can create different changes to a person's chromosomes. A doctor called a pathologist will examine the cancerous cells under a microscope. Several different types of chromosomal abnormalities are associated with a poorer outlook. These include: Ph1-positive t(9;22) abnormalities BCR/ABL-rearranged leukemia t(4;11) deletion of chromosome 7 trisomy 8 If your doctor makes an ALL diagnosis, they'll tell you what type of leukemia cells you have. What effect does treatment response have on survival rate? People who respond quickly to treatments for ALL may have a better outlook. When it takes longer to reach remission, the outlook is often not as good. If a person's treatment takes longer than four weeks to go into remission, this can affect their outlook. What effect does the spread of ALL have on survival rate? ALL can spread to the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in the body. The greater the spread to nearby organs, including CSF, the poorer the outlook. What effect does WBC count have on survival rate? Those with a very high WBC count at diagnosis (usually higher than 50,000 to 100,000) have a poorer outlook. How can a person cope and seek support? Hearing a doctor tell you that you have cancer is never easy. However, many types of ALL are highly treatable. While you undergo treatments, there are many avenues of support available to help you through this journey. Some of the methods you can use are listed below: Research the disease Learning more from respected, well-researched organizations can help you become as informed as possible about your condition and care. Examples of excellent resources include: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society American Cancer Society Reach out to your healthcare team Cancer treatment often involves a team approach to your care. Many cancer facilities have cancer navigators who can put you in touch with resources and support. Many health professionals can support you or a loved one. They include: psychiatrists social workers dietitians child life specialists case managers chaplains Consider complementary treatments Treatments that promote relaxation and stress relief can complement your medical treatments. Examples could include massage or acupuncture. Always talk to your doctor before beginning any complementary treatments such as herbs, vitamins, or special diets. Create a share point for friends and loved ones You'll likely encounter many people who would like to help or receive updates on how you're doing throughout your treatments. If you're open to sharing these updates, consider webpages such as Caring Bridge. For friends who want to help, there are resources such as Meal Train. It allows friends to sign up for meal deliveries. It's important to remember there are many friends, family members, and organizations who wish to help you in your treatment and recovery from ALL.
Forbes
07-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Bursting The Bubble: How Outside Voices Strengthen Nonprofit Marketing
Lynn Richardson-Godfrey, CXO at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, is an expert in transformative marketing for nonprofits & iconic brands. When was the last time someone inspired your organization to think bigger, act bolder and break through long-standing barriers? I'm talking about the kind of outside perspective that doesn't just validate your current approach but propels you toward innovative strategies you might never have considered on your own. If you're struggling to remember, you might be missing one of the most powerful tools in nonprofit marketing. Mission-driven organizations naturally attract passionate champions deeply committed to their cause. This shared conviction creates a powerful culture but can sometimes limit our perspective on what's possible. That's why building a structured way to invite outside voices into your strategic conversations is essential. An external advisory council has been a game-changing tool throughout my career, accelerating innovation while also helping us avoid potential missteps. The results have been so transformative that I'm convinced every nonprofit needs this kind of structured catalyst and reality check. Why Outside Voices Matter More Than Ever As the media environment has become increasingly fractured, breaking through the noise with your brand message is more challenging than ever. Consumers encounter between 4,000-10,000 brand messages daily, making it nearly impossible to capture attention without sophisticated strategies. Outside perspectives help you navigate this crowded landscape by championing bold new directions while also identifying potential missteps before they happen. As I discovered during my time at Girl Scouts, when we faced intensifying competition for young girls' attention, sometimes your most valuable asset is someone who pushes you to be bolder than you thought possible and gives you the confidence to move in exciting new directions. How External Advisors Build Stronger Organizations Your external advisors can be champions for innovation, helping you build compelling cases for change that convince executive leadership and boards to embrace new approaches. This is particularly crucial when board members have limited marketing experience or when you're in an organization that hasn't traditionally prioritized brand strategy. These advisors become invaluable allies when proposing big-swing initiatives or significant shifts in strategy. They provide the market validation and outside credibility that often makes the difference between a bold idea being approved or shelved. Long-term, they can help expand internal stakeholders' understanding of the value of marketing and brand investment in mission-driven organizations. The secondary but equally important benefit is their ability to spot potential awareness gaps before they become problems. Our mission-driven culture, while inspiring, can sometimes lead to groupthink. External advisors help ensure we're seeing the complete picture while pushing us toward greater innovation. Innovation Accelerator And Reality Check At the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, our Brand Advisory Council consists of three outside marketing and communications industry professionals whose primary role is to accelerate our thinking and advocate for bold, innovative approaches that push us beyond our comfort zone. These are not board members, but trusted advisors who volunteer their time and expertise. Our current council includes a for-profit advertising executive, a marketing strategist from another sector and a professional with both advertising and nonprofit experience. We meet quarterly for one hour to get unfiltered perspectives on key initiatives. I purposefully select people without deep knowledge of our organization because I want them to bring fresh perspectives unburdened by our historical constraints. The results have transformed our work. Just this year, these outside voices have: • Expanded our options for consumer research methodologies • Offered strategies for quantifying brand ROI and measuring brand investment impact on donor revenue and mission delivery • Given us the confidence to pursue bold initiatives that internal teams might have hesitated to champion • Spotted market opportunities outside our traditional approach This structure is remarkably efficient. For just four hours annually, we access insights that would cost hundreds of thousands in consulting fees. More importantly, we've created a mechanism that allows us to expand our vision of what's possible while building the confidence to pursue ambitious new directions. Starting Your Council "We already get feedback from our donors and board," I often hear when suggesting this approach. But those stakeholders are already invested in your mission. While valuable, their perspective often comes from within your established frameworks. Similarly, the excuse that "we don't have time for this" overlooks the tremendous return on investment in both accelerated innovation and avoided missteps. You don't need elaborate structures to unleash this potential. Adopt our advisory council model or create your own. Here's how: • Create a micro-advisory council. Recruit two to three marketing professionals from outside your sector who will inspire bold thinking and provide candid feedback. • Institute innovation accelerator sessions. Before finalizing initiatives, invite outside perspectives to identify opportunities to amplify impact and reach. • Bring in fresh perspectives. Connect with people who aren't yet engaged with your cause to discover new approaches and untapped opportunities. • Shadow swap with commercial marketers. Arrange exchanges where your team observes how for-profit marketers operate, and vice versa. Maximizing Impact And Attention Nonprofit marketers compete not just with other causes but with Netflix, TikTok, work emails, 24/7 news cycles, family obligations and countless other demands for attention. In this environment, playing it safe is often the riskiest strategy of all. Our organizations exist to create positive change. To maximize impact, we need advocates for bold innovation who also help us avoid potential pitfalls. External perspectives help us envision ambitious new possibilities while ensuring we have the strongest possible approach. By incorporating outside voices into your strategic process, you gain powerful champions, particularly in organizations where marketing hasn't traditionally been a central focus. You might discover, as we did, that these outside voices inspire you to be bolder than you thought possible while ensuring you have the strongest foundation for success. Forbes Nonprofit Council is an invitation-only organization for chief executives in successful nonprofit organizations. Do I qualify?
