NATIONAL Man of the Year

My Dad called me with the news late this afternoon. He did it. He is the NATIONAL Man of the Year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He raised more money than any other person in the United States....EVER. The most someone had ever raised in years past was $286,000. He won the 2010 honor by raising $430,000. So, he is indeed, the NATIONAL champion and will be featured in USA Today, possibly a picture of him with Ally. I will get the date to you when we find out.

It is quite amazing to me that the most money was raised in a small town like Dayton Ohio. Not New York. Not DC. Not LA. Not Chicago. He beat them all. It will bring four research grants to further the cause and hopefully make more progress towards finding a cure. Maybe the cure will be found. We can't stop trying until the kids stop suffering. There has to be a better option.

It is even more unbelievable that this all happened because one eight year old little girl was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia. And one family refused to back down. Someday she will understand the magnitude of it all. It was done for her. And also for Ashley, Davey, John, and Lincoln ....in their honor. And for those survivors of the disease who are still fighting: Ally, Amanda, Allison, Katie, Tori, Aubrey, Livi, Maggie, Bonnie, Owen, and Nan. We cannot forget our other cancer family of Jackie, Julia, and Skye....and the many others that are fighting this disease who we don't even know.

We also found out some exciting news that the LLS is announcing some winners at the July 19th Cincinnati Reds Baseball Game.

The team that raised the most money in Ohio for the Light the Night Walk : Ally's Army
And the Man who won the National Man of the Year Campaign: Bob Mills

Together raising half a million dollars for LLS and a cure.

Both of which also involve our girl and she will be one of two "heros" throwing out the first pitch in the game. Which in my mind is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Wow...on the field for a MLB game.

Proud cannot describe it. Words cannot say it. The emotion is overwhelming. Thank you is not enough, but it is all I can do.

Thank you to everyone for rallying behind our cause.