Cancer survivor gives back

Please join us for a cocktail reception and fashion show from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, at Wearable Art by Scott Laurent, 340 N. Park Ave., in Winter Park. Twenty percent of all proceeds will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

My name is Paula McCormick. I am a loving wife and proud mother of four wonderful children: Breanna, 17, Nicholas, 15, Megan, 9, and Cameron, 7. I would say my life is very full and rewarding. I work full time managing the Maitland office of Seacoast National Bank and that brings another sense of fulfillment in my life. I am now running for Woman of the Year with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

It’s not hard to guess why so many people are passionate about raising money to support this wonderful cause. Statistics show that you know someone in your life, if not yourself, that has, is or will be touched by a blood cancer. Every four minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer, and every 10 minutes, someone loses his or her battle.

My story started in 2009 when I was diagnosed with lymphoma. While I was undergoing diagnostic measures to determine the degree and type of lymphoma, I was determined to find a way to give back. I reached out to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) to find out how I could help. The Disney Half Marathon with Team in Training fundraiser was just about to kick off, and I said I would attend the orientation. Running is not a friend of mine, but after hearing about the program I knew I could do it with the support of family and friends. In the end I raised $3,300 and completed a half marathon in March 2010, despite having a heart attack while undergoing radiation. My second event was Light the Night, and if you’ve never witnessed the beauty of the illuminated balloons that everyone carries during this night walk, you must plan on attending next year. I am now on my third event to raise money for LLS as a candidate for the Woman of the Year. For this campaign every dollar raised equates into one vote. There are so many stories with great outcomes, but unfortunately there are many with sad ones. For this reason I am committed to helping LLS raise funds to find a cure for blood cancers.

Over the past decade, Society-funded research has made possible new multiple-drug therapies, the development of stem cell transplantation, the discovery of specific gene mutations that cause particular blood cancers, and the drugs Gleevec, Velcade, Revlamid and Rituxan. These new-targeted drugs have increased five-year survival rates for chronic myelogenous leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma patients, and have dramatically improved the quality of patients' lives. I hope you will find it in your heart to give a little to support such a great cause. My link for donations is http://ncfl.mwoy.llsevent.org/mccormick or you may visit LLS.org

Paula McCormick is assistant branch manager at the Maitland office of Seacoast National Bank. She lives in Avalon Park.