How Derby & Diamonds Began

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Annual Man & Woman of the Year campaign is a 10-week fundraising campaign. In 2018 I was asked to run for Woman of the Year, and I said yes. Why did I accept the challenge? The Leukemia & Lymphoma had touched my life through family and friends, but my reason for saying yes was even bigger. If you know me, you know I love children. I never want another child to have to fight this horrible disease. I never want another parent to have to watch their child fight this horrible disease.

It is my hope that one day soon there is a cure and when a diagnosis of cancer is given it is not a moment of fear, it is a moment for a simple question, “Do you want the shot or the pill?”.

I believe in the research of LLS. I truly believe they will discover the cure for cancer as they have been on the forefront of cancer research from inception. Did you know, LLS funded advancing chemotherapy and many other treatments used today? It’s only a matter of time until LLS funds the research leading to a cure.

One Sunday afternoon while sitting in my kitchen with my husband and my campaign manager contemplating fundraising ideas, I realized the Kentucky Derby ran during the 10-week Woman of the Year campaign. After a lot of discussion over a bit of prosecco (or possibly the other way around), we decided to go for it. We started planning right then and there and the pieces began to fall into place. With the tireless help of friends and family, the event was a success!

And the rest, as they say, is history!