LLS Research Grant

THE DAY HAS COME!!!
 
It is with the utmost excitement to be able to announce that with great dedication comes great reward!

With our continued work to advocate and raise funds for LLS we are finally able to name a research grant in honor of my late father-in-law which will specifically target immunotherapy research.
 
After careful consideration and understanding the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation we chose Dr. Carl June for his advancement in the immunotherapy realm of research. We are of the belief that immunotherapy treatments are less invasive and will be the future of successful treatments for blood cancer and other cancers.
 
We are looking forward to the journey of what may resolve from this research grant and are so joyful to be a small part of his work!
 
For those of you who are interested in the phase of research we have chosen, here's a little information on Dr. Carl June out of the University of Pennsylvania!
Love,
Jessica Cassidy
Mrs. Michigan International 2015
 

CARL JUNE, MD
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

 

The goal of this collaborative research team is to develop chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modified T cells to treat leukemia and lymphoma. The investigation consists of four synergistic projects.

 

Dr. June and his LLS-funded team have made significant advances, including immunotherapies that employ a patients' own normal T cells genetically modified  to display a CAR molecule that targets CD19, a protein found on many lymphoid cancers. CD19 CAR-T cells have achieved remissions for adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and children with acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) who had not achieved stable remissions with multiple standard therapies.

 

The team is now working to discover antigens that can be recognized in CD19-negative ALLs and other blood cancers, including lymphomas and acute myeloid leukemia's. In addition, they are further improving CAR engineering and delivery technologies, testing new CAR-T cells in appropriate animal models, and beginning clinical testing of new strategies including ones that use engineered T cells from donors.

Dr. Louis DeGennaro, PhD

Its not every day that your family receives a thank you note in the mail from the President and CEO of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! Thank you Dr. DeGennaro for your support and recognition! We are looking forward to Dr. June's continued successes in finding better cures for blood cancer patients!
Love,
Jessica Cassidy
Mrs. International 2015

LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY LEGACY CIRCLE

June 11th, 2015

Today was our LTN Corporate Kick-off at the Gandy Dancer! What a great way to welcome new faces and provide information about LLS and how to get involved in our campaign to support blood cancer research!

I was asked to be the mission speaker by sharing my journey with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and why I continue to advocate and raise funds for their mission. I was so honored to be able to share my story and truly convey that LLS is family and because of their dedication to blood cancer research lives will be saved.

 

                                                     What an honor!

                                                       Love,

                                                      Jessica Cassidy

                                                      Mrs. Michigan International 2015

June 10th, 2015

It's always a pleasure to get together with the Executive Committee for the Light the Night Campaign for LLS. We have a great group working to make the Ann Arbor event a memorable one. We are so excited to be able to host the LTN walk in A2 this year where much of the LLS funded blood cancer research takes place. This year we have decided on the University of Michigan North Campus Research Campus (NCRC). Once the festivities to kick off the event we will be walking around the campus where our donor dollars are at work!

NCRC is such a monumental place for our walk to take place in and around as there are a total of 13 LLS funded researchers at the University of Michigan all working to find better cures for blood cancer patients. This is the largest number of researchers concentrated in one area focused on blood cancer research across the country.

After discussing all of the logistics information, Adam Chiasson, Site Leader at BD Biosciences gave us a tour of the facilities where they construct the cytometers which are specifically used for blood cancer and then asked us to be celebrity judges for the derby car esthetics for their annual internal Derby Car Race! Thanks Adam!

So excited to be a part of an amazing organization and a great team!

Love,
Jessica Cassidy
Mrs. Michigan International 2015

Nice Surprise



What a nice surprise to receive in the mail today!

 

Recently our Madison Height Chapter was in search of a new Executive Director and after a long time searching they found an amazing Executive Director to head the Madison Heights Chapter. Even though we've spoke I haven't had the opportunity to meet him though I will be next week!  In addition to reviewing the National pilot for Planned Giving we are developing that will roll out in September/October 2015, Kirk and I will have the privilege to sit down with him to take care of a VERY important item which I will post later about!

 

I am so thankful that we have an amazing ED that understands charitable planning and hope to learn from him to position the pilot appropriately for LLS donors! We re truly looking forward to working closely with Doug and are excited for what the future holds with our relationship and partnership with LLS!

 

Love,

Jessica Cassidy

Mrs. Michigan International 2015

Fighting for a cause; Not just a crown!"

Luckiest Gal in the World!

I have to give my husband kudos for being such an amazing and thoughtful husband, father and human being. Not only does he coach our sons travel baseball team but he always makes sure that Samarra and I always feel special regardless of the countless hours of sports surrounding Trae.

For the last two years Kirk has brought home flowers for Samarra and I almost every week. Not a bouquet to share but specific bouquets selected for each of us. (On occasion he will have the assistance of our son Trae to weigh in on the selection.) Needless to say, after a long baseball tournament weekend he not only went to the grocery but he also brought Samarra and I home flowers. I received the most beautiful yellow roses and Samarra received beautiful daisy's.

The best lesson in all of this is that I appreciate him so much but most important, I appreciate him for teaching my son and daughter to cherish the people they love and that they are both cherished.

Love,
Jessica Cassidy
Mrs. Michigan International 2015