Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada
Encyclopedia
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and patient services.
, lymphoma
, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
, Montreal
, Calgary
and Vancouver
. There are also satellite offices in Edmonton
and Victoria
. Each chapter provides patient services to those suffering from blood cancers, as well as manages fundraising campaigns such as Team in Training
, Light The Night Walk
and Pennies for Patients. The Society also provides services to patients and their families through their Patient Services programs, and runs awareness campaigns through the School & Youth program.
In 2007, an estimated 4,200 Canadians will be diagnosed with leukemia
; 7,680 with lymphoma
and 2,000 with myeloma.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada was previously the Leukemia Research Fund of Canada.
, she persuaded four other women to join her on a mission to California
, where the City of Hope Hospital was located.
Following this mission, a Toronto chapter was set up and funds went directly to the hospital in California. The organization used blue boxes resembling the hospital to collect money around the city. On May 9, 1957, a provincial charter was issued to 14 women, as members of the newly incorporated City of Hope Leukemia Fighters. Anne Finkle was made president.
Eventually a Toronto hospital was selected to receive funding from the Toronto chapter. On December 22, 1965 the official change to Toronto Leukemia Fighters took place. In the same year, Mount Sinai Hospital
was without a government grant for research into leukemia and related blood diseases. That year the Toronto chapter presented the hospital with a cheque for $2,000. Over the next ten years, more than $400,000 would be raised and donated resulting in the dedication of a new Research Laboratory at the hospital in honour of the Leukemia Research Fund. Some of the original members of the Toronto Leukemia fighters were Sarah Sokoloff, Ann Glickman, Greta Sonshine, Bessie Klotz.
The organization adopted the name of the Leukemia Research Fund on August 21, 1972. A similar organization existed in Toronto during the same time, Crusade Against Leukemia, and on June 30, 1983 it amalgamated with the LRF.
By 1990, there were several branches in Ontario, as well as one in Vancouver. In this same year the United Food and Commercial Workers
Canada joined the team with an enormous fundraising boost. In 1991, four new branches were added: Edmonton
, Leamington
, Oshawa
and North Bay
.
In 1992, LRF became a federally registered charity.
On July 1, 2004 the LRF became affiliated with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
, becoming the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. Headquartered in Toronto, the LLSC has branches and volunteers across Canada.
Mission
To cure leukemiaLeukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
, lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
Canadian Chapters
There are four chapters in Canada including TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
and Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. There are also satellite offices in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
and Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
. Each chapter provides patient services to those suffering from blood cancers, as well as manages fundraising campaigns such as Team in Training
Team in Training
Team in Training, also known by the acronym TNT, is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's endurance sports training program. The program provides training for a half marathon, marathon, triathlon, century bike ride, or a cross-country ski marathon...
, Light The Night Walk
Light The Night Walk
Light the Night Walk is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's walk to build awareness of blood cancers as well as raise money for research and support of patients and their families. It is held in over 200 communities in North America each fall as well as in Australia.Walkers carry illuminated balloons...
and Pennies for Patients. The Society also provides services to patients and their families through their Patient Services programs, and runs awareness campaigns through the School & Youth program.
In 2007, an estimated 4,200 Canadians will be diagnosed with leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
; 7,680 with lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
and 2,000 with myeloma.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada was previously the Leukemia Research Fund of Canada.
History of the LRF
In 1955, Anne Finkle's visited Detroit for a City of Hope Leukemia Fighters meeting. Upon her return to TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, she persuaded four other women to join her on a mission to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where the City of Hope Hospital was located.
Following this mission, a Toronto chapter was set up and funds went directly to the hospital in California. The organization used blue boxes resembling the hospital to collect money around the city. On May 9, 1957, a provincial charter was issued to 14 women, as members of the newly incorporated City of Hope Leukemia Fighters. Anne Finkle was made president.
Eventually a Toronto hospital was selected to receive funding from the Toronto chapter. On December 22, 1965 the official change to Toronto Leukemia Fighters took place. In the same year, Mount Sinai Hospital
Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto)
Mount Sinai Hospital is a hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Although it is physically linked by bridges and tunnels to two University Health Network hospitals , Mount Sinai is an independently operated facility...
was without a government grant for research into leukemia and related blood diseases. That year the Toronto chapter presented the hospital with a cheque for $2,000. Over the next ten years, more than $400,000 would be raised and donated resulting in the dedication of a new Research Laboratory at the hospital in honour of the Leukemia Research Fund. Some of the original members of the Toronto Leukemia fighters were Sarah Sokoloff, Ann Glickman, Greta Sonshine, Bessie Klotz.
The organization adopted the name of the Leukemia Research Fund on August 21, 1972. A similar organization existed in Toronto during the same time, Crusade Against Leukemia, and on June 30, 1983 it amalgamated with the LRF.
By 1990, there were several branches in Ontario, as well as one in Vancouver. In this same year the United Food and Commercial Workers
United Food and Commercial Workers
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union is a labor union representing approximately 1.3 million workers in the United States and Canada in many industries, including agriculture, health care, meatpacking, poultry and food processing, manufacturing, textile, G4S Security, chemical...
Canada joined the team with an enormous fundraising boost. In 1991, four new branches were added: Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Leamington
Leamington, Ontario
Leamington is a municipality in Essex County, southern Ontario, Canada, and has a population of 31,113. It includes Point Pelee, the southernmost point of mainland Canada. It has a large H. J. Heinz Company factory and is known as the "Tomato Capital of Canada", with 4 km² of this crop in the...
, Oshawa
Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
and North Bay
North Bay, Ontario
North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:...
.
In 1992, LRF became a federally registered charity.
On July 1, 2004 the LRF became affiliated with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society , founded in 1949, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. LLS's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of...
, becoming the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. Headquartered in Toronto, the LLSC has branches and volunteers across Canada.