Rye Brook, NY, (December 7, 2017) --“If you had a chance to support research that is saving lives…What would you do?” asks John Quinones in a new public service announcement for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, titled “I Live.” The ABC News correspondent and host of the popular television series, What Would You Do? is featured in the compelling segments, joined by a group of children and one adult who are all blood cancer survivors.
Quinones begins the :30 version of the “I Live” PSA stating, “Thanks to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, what was once impossible is happening today for thousands of patients with blood cancer,” followed by quick cuts of an adult and five inspirational child cancer survivors. The survivors each confirm, “I Live” or “She Lives,” underscoring the progress being made in treatments for patients because of the research supported by LLS. They are:
- Bella Mazuca, diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at 2 years old;
- Claire Montwille, diagnosed with ALL at 2 ½ year old;
- Aidan Love, diagnosed with acute T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma in 2014;
- Victoria Young, diagnosed with ALL one day before her sixth birthday;
- Aida Cordeau, diagnosed with ALL when she was in kindergarten (Aida’s twin sister Kalli says “She Lives”); and
- Amanda Ramirez, diagnosed in early 2016 with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), concludes they all live “because of the research supported by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.”
The :15, :30 and :60 versions of the PSA drive home the urgent need to raise funds for research to advance blood cancer therapies to save lives. Boom TV is handling the PSA distribution.
“John Quinones’s What Would You Do? series is about doing the right thing,” said Louis J. DeGennaro, Ph.D., president and CEO, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. “He exemplifies this goal in his commitment to raising awareness of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s goal to find cures for blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for patients and their families.”
Quinones generously donated his time to create the PSA, as well as participating in other LLS fundraising events, including emceeing a San Antonio chapter ‘Models of Courage’ Fashion Show fundraiser, where all the models are blood cancer survivors, and participating in a ‘Dinner with John’ fundraiser.
“I Live” was written, directed and produced in San Antonio by Irez Productions’ Bryan Anthony Ramirez and Amanda Ramirez, the adult leukemia survivor featured in the spot. The Ramirez’s donated their talent and services to create the PSAs on behalf of LLS.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
Contact:
Linda Heaney
Linda.Heaney@lls.org
914.821.8208