Team Karen

Hello friends and family,

In the spirit of "paying it forward", after a hiatus in 2024, Paul and I are once again fundraising in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's signature event Light the Night to be held on Oct. 25, 2025 at the Canadian War Museum. We will walk with our lanterns held high to remember, to be grateful and to support research to end blood cancers.

Please join us by donating, joining us at Light the Night or donating blood or stem cells. Blood and stem cells save lives. We know there are many other worthwhile causes to support. If you donate to other causes, we get it. Thank you for giving.

This year's walk will be a significant celebration for us. On April 29, 2025, we celebrated my 5 year "re-birthday" following my stem cell (bone marrow) transplant in 2020. Shortly after my diagnosis, we were told that if I make it to 5 years, I would be considered cured. That day was so scary, and 5 years felt like an eternity, but here I am 5 years young and eternally grateful to medical science, research and Team Karen still walking along side us each and every day. Only 10 years before I needed my transplant, researchers discovered how to do half matched (haplo identical) bone marrow transplants and that research saved my life.

Through your collective generosity, Team Karen has raised over $50,000 for the LLSC over the past 5 years. The LLSC has invested over $60.5 million since 1983 in 567 Canadian blood cancer research grants.

The best ways I can think of to celebrate my 5th re-birthday are to try to enjoy each and every day, to delight in family and friends, to take good care of my body and to pay it forwards. So here goes...

Our warmest thanks,

Karen and Paul

P.S. The photo we included is from our recent cycling trip to Portugal. While perhaps not the best photo, our joy is on full display. :-)