Day 53 of 98 Days - The Real Man and Woman of the Year Unmasked

I have since the beginning been really uncomfortable with the named title of this fundraising campaign. My thought being Man and Woman of the Year - how pretentious is that? Raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is honorable and commendable. Period. Raising the most money in a geographical area such as Indianapolis for the funding of cancer research is an honor, and every one of the participants in this campaign that I have met are notable in their desire to defeat blood cancers in our time by raising gobs of cash for cancer research. That is our prize. Collectively we want to throw enough money at this monster that we can drive it back to the hell from which it came! We are all one in this.

The moniker of Man and Woman of the Year? No. That is not our goal. Money and lots of it for research to defeat this monster cancer. That is our goal. We don't want titles. We want a cure. Now.

So who is the real Man and Woman of the Year? What is the definition of a Man or Woman of the Year? Could it be an individual or couple who is brave, resilient, fearless, and so full of life and enthusiasm for it that they can daily look in the face of their child and continue cheer them on through endless chemo and transfusions?

It's clear to me that every Mother and Father of a leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma victim is the real Man and Woman of the Year. To all of those moms and dads, and especially to Dan and Jo Ellen to whom I know and love personally, I dedicate my campaign.

You are truly the Men and Women of the Year!