2009 Partner in Progress Recipient Grace Craig
	Grace Craig (center) with her cousins Craig Fort (left) and Miriam Cox (right) (photo credit - Accuphotolab.com)

4th Annual Leukemia Ball Raises $120,000!
 

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society held its 4th Annual Leukemia Ball on Saturday, February 28, 2009.  Over 350 guests enjoyed a Mardi Gras themed evening, including wonderful food, Ketel One Martini Bar, live and silent auctions, and music by the East Coast Party Bank as funds and awareness of the progress being made to end blood cancer were raised.  The event raised $120,000 to support the research and patient service programs of the Society.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Society's annual Partners In Progress award to a deserving young lady, Grace Craig, for her contributions that have impacted the Society's mission to find a cure for blood cancer:

In 2002, Grace Craig chose The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as her yearlong "Peace" project at East Cooper Montessori Charter School in Mt. Pleasant. Uncannily, no one knew that when Grace undertook this project just how much her family would be impacted by blood cancer.

In early 2003, two first cousins, Craig Fort, age 1 ½, and Miriam Cox, age 3 months, were diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. They were diagnosed within 24 hours of each other and were from different sides of her family.

For her "Peace" project that year, eight year old Grace decided to form a team to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk in honor of her two cousins. She started out by simply telling Craig and Miriam's stories and asking parents of her classmates to donate money as they picked their children up from school. She also sent a letter to her mom's and aunts' Christmas card lists. That year, through the generosity of friends and family, the Montessori School LTN Team, lead by Grace, raised over $9,000!

Grace has served as the Montessori School LTN Team Captain every year since. She has been recognized as a "Bright Light" Top Individual Fundraiser and her team has been recognized as a Top Friends and Family Team, both locally and statewide. To date, Grace and the Montessori School LTN Team have raised over $48,000!

Over the years, Grace has become a champion for LLS. In addition to her outstanding fundraising efforts, recently she was asked to share her first hand knowledge with her peers when a school mate was diagnosed with leukemia.

Grace's cousin Craig, now 7, is in remission and doing very well. Her cousin Miriam, now six, was diagnosed again in February, 2008 and is in the process of completing her extensive chemotherapy treatments. Craig and Miriam serve as motivation that although great strides have been made through research, our work is not done.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is proud to honor Grace for her philanthropic spirit and commitment at such a young age. We especially applaud her parents, Andy and Lisa, and family for their support, encouragement and example.

Past Partners in Progress Recipients

Elena Bell, LISW, ACSW-MUSC- Hollings Cancer Center
The late Wilburn Brewer, Jr.-Nexsen Pruet, LLC
Daniel J. Fernandes, Ph.D., D.Sc.- MUSC
George F. Geils, Jr., M.D.- Roper St. Francis Healthcare
Barbara Halpern- Society volunteer and Team In Training coach
Marilyn, Ellen, and Barry Hoffman- Longtime Society volunteer family
The late Reverend Monsignor Robert J. Kelly-Bishop England High School
Robert K. Stuart, M.D.- MUSC