Man and Woman of the Year Campaign begins

On March 5, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society kicked off its Man and Woman of the Year Campaign in Sussex County at the Farifield Inn in Rehoboth. The campaign involves several local candidates with their own teams who work to raise donations. The man and woman with the most donations at the end of the 10-week event are named the county’s man and woman of the year.

Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton, and Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, presented Senate and House tributes to the local LLS chapter for its fundraising to fight blood cancer.

“Awareness is first and foremost, and that’s a mission we can get behind,” Lopez said.

The six candidates for this year’s competition: Jeanine O’Donnell, Jessica Nathan, Heather Spencer, Robbin Thompson, Sarah Shoemaker and Scott Underkoffler, were all present and discussed why they have joined the effort to fight blood cancers. 

“My brother was diagnosed with a high-grade diffuse large B-cell lymphoma,” said Heather Spencer of Salted Vines Vineyard & Winery. “His struggle is why I felt so driven to join this campaign. I feel so passionate to try and help someone every day, so it’s far from a chore. It’s due to all of those advancements in technology, science and medicine that my brother is able to be here with us.”

The goal for Sussex County’s campaign is $250,000 among the six candidates, and with their determined approach, the campaign reached $67,000 before it officially began. 

The Boy and Girl of the year, Caleb O’Brien and Cece Lewandowski, two local children battling against blood cancer, were also announced. 

The society continues its mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and melanoma. In its more than 70-year history, the society has donated $1.3 billion to blood cancer research, and since 2017 has funded 44 of 50 FDA-approved treatments. 

For more information on the campaign, contact any of the local candidates or visit lls.org.