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Westchester Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Announces Awards

PELHAM, N.Y. – The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Weschester/Hudson Valley Chapter honored two local citizens with the Man of the Year and Woman of the Year awards during the organization’s Grand Finale Celebration.

Matthew Campbell, Man of the Year recipient, speaks during the Grand Finale Celebration.

Matthew Campbell, Man of the Year recipient, speaks during the Grand Finale Celebration.

The awards go to the top male and female fund-raisers each year. The total amount raised was almost $500,000.

The recipients were Matthew Campbell, formerly of Pelham, and Team Today, a group led by Dr. Christina Veit of Briarcliff Manor and Reina Sinni of Dobbs Ferry. Beginning in March, fund-raisers began their work, with each dollar counting as a vote.

All the proceeds will be used to fund leukemia and  lymphoma  research, and the quest for cures and new therapy techniques for those with blood cancer.  Campbell and Team Today will compete for the LLS Man of the Year and Woman of the Year national awards, which will be presented this summer.

Campbell battled his non-Hodgkin lymphoma for three years, back when he was diagnosed with it more than 20 years ago. Shortly after, he joined the LLS Westchester/Hudson Valley Chapter Board of Trustees. He is now vice chairman.

Veit and Sinni have both had cancer touch their lives as well. Veit, a gynecology and reproductive endocrinology specialist, has a practice in the Westchester area. She has worked with expectant mothers receiving cancer treatments. Sinni had a five-year-old sister who died of  leukemia.

“Congratulations to our winners, and to all of our candidates and campaign teams who participated this year,” said Dennis Chillemi, the chapter’s executive director. “They are all passionate and determined individuals, and leaders in their communities. Their efforts really go far in bringing access and cures to patients and their families, not someday, but today. They are all true Champions of Hope.”

This year’s competition drew 11 participants, the most ever. Each year, The Boy of the Year and Girl of the Year, local children who are blood cancer survivors, are honored. This year, they are Danny van Shaik of Suffern, N.Y., and Samantha Molinelli of Warwick, N.Y. For more information, visit the website at www.lls.org, or call 800-955-4572.

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