RALEIGH, NC (March 30, 2009) -The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Eastern North Carolina chapter kicked off their Man & Woman of the Year competition to raise money for blood cancer research and patient services on March 26. Candidates compete for the title by raising funds in honor of local survivors, Boy of the Year Charlie Morlock, age 7, of Cary and Girl of the Year Haidyn Reinhardt, age 5, of Apex.

Candidates competing for 2009 Man of the Year are Scott Jackson of 99.9 The Fan ESPN Radio; Ashley Mann of C. Ashley Mann, DDS; Michael Martin of WR Starkey Mortgage, Sean Timmons of Smith Anderson; and Ben Woodward of Springboard Eydo.

Candidates competing for 2009 Woman of the Year are Taylor Bunnell of Best Buy Mobile, Barbara Heathcote of IBM, Darla Liles, M.D. of the Brody School of Medicine Leo Jenkins Cancer Center, and Kristy Richards, Ph.D., M.D. of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

This year, Honorary Youth Candidate Taylor Faircloth, age 17, will be fundraising along with the candidates.

"Everyone who participates in this important fundraising event is a hero to our organization," said Tiffany Drummond Armstrong, executive director of the Eastern N.C. Chapter of LLS. "Last year our group of twelve corporate and community leaders raised a record-breaking $333,000 during the ten week competition. Participation in Man & Woman of the Year is a great way for candidates to gain recognition in the Triangle and make a difference in the lives of more than 894,000 Americans living with blood cancers."

Candidates for the titles are judged solely on the basis of their success in generating funds to benefit LLS, which invests in research for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and provides information and services to patients and their families. Every dollar raised counts as one vote. The male and female candidates with the most votes locally will be crowned "2009 Man & Woman of the Year," at a Grand Finale Celebration at the Raleigh Marriott City Center on June 4. These top local fundraisers will also be in the running for the national title of Man & Woman of the Year, an honor surrounded with a great deal of fanfare, including a full-page ad in USA Today. You can cast a vote for your favorite candidate at www.lls.org/ncemwoy.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Eastern N.C. Chapter serves patients battling leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma in 49 Eastern North Carolina counties. The Raleigh-based chapter, with a satellite office in Wilmington, raises money for research leading to a cure for blood cancers and to enhance the quality of life for local patients through services such as family support groups, educational programs and financial assistance. For more information about The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, visit http://www.lls.org.

Related Links

1. http://www.lls.org/ncemwoy
2. http://www.lls.org/nce