2012 Leukemia fundraising pushes lifetime campaign over $26 million
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Toronto, ON- June 8, 2012 - UFCW Canada's enduring campaign to fund the research efforts of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC) reached new highs — and propelled the total raised since the campaign began in the mid-1980's past the $26 million mark.
The amount raised by UFCW Canada activists, family members and local unions in the last 12 months alone totaled a record $2,422,273.24 for research to find a cure and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers. The total was announced by National President Wayne Hanley at the 23rd Annual UFCW Canada Leukemia Gala in Toronto which annually celebrates and honours the stupendous ongoing commitment by UFCW Canada members and Local Unions to the LLSC.
Including this year's fundraising efforts, the total raised over the years for the LLSC is now an incredible $26,224,339.24.
"It is an impressive number, but what is more impressive is what this combined effort has done to improve the lives and outcome for literally tens of thousands of blood cancer patients and their families," said Brother Hanley to the audience of UFCW Canada activists from across the country. "An even more impressive number is the 250,000 lives saved by just one therapy alone that was developed from the research UFCW Canada's fundraising has helped finance since we began this journey of hope."
Every year UFCW Canada members, family and friends across the country organize and participate in numerous fundraising activities like raffles, community picnics, 50-50 draws, car washes, baseball tournaments, ride-a-thons, marathons, relays and Light the Night walks.
In Ontario, a province-wide campaign to convert deposits on bottles into donations has also become another pillar of the overall fundraising efforts, with UFCW Canada Local 12R24 announcing the latest “Returns for Leukemia” campaign raised over a million dollars for a third year in a row. This year's "Returns for Leukemia" raised a record $1,668,012.24 – with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the LLSC.
By the end of the night, the total announced from efforts all across the country confirmed that UFCW Canada members and their local unions continue to be the largest fundraising organization in Canada for research to fight leukemia and other blood cancers.
"We set out as brothers and sisters and families to make a difference," said Brother Hanley. "We have done that, but we're not about to stop, because tonight is just an annual high point on the journey started almost two-and-a-half decades ago. That journey won't end until the day the threat of all blood cancers is a thing of the past and we will get there."