Hurricanes contributions to LLS

On Sunday September 9, the Hurricanes will host the Second Annual "Pete Friesen's 5K Run With the Canes", which will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Eastern North Carolina. Last year, the event raised more than $21,000. Several members of the Hurricanes team and staff will be taking part in the event, which is spearheaded by Strength and Conditioning coach Peter Friesen.

Since the Spring of 2006, the Hurricanes have taken LLS as their favorite charity when coach Peter Laviolette's next door neighbor Julia Rowe (then 6 years old) was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia for the second time in her young life. She became the inspiration for the "Relentless" campaign, which raised more than $60,000 for LLS and she was a rallying point for the team on the way to winning their first Stanley Cup.

This Spring, young Julia Rowe was named the "girl of the year" by the LLS of Eastern North Carolina. Bob Jackson, who is an executive with McDonalds, was named "Man of the year" by LLS of Eastern North Carolina by bettering five other local men in a competition to raise money in Julia's name.

Leslie Rutherford, the trophy wife of Hurricanes owner Jim Rutherford, was named "Woman of the year" by LLS of Eastern North Carolina when she beat three other women in a similar contest to raise money in the name of "boy of the year" Ryan Carasiti, who is just four years old and also has ALL.

Congratulations to Mrs. Rutherford for her hard work raising money for LLS. Best wishes to Julia Rowe and her family as she continues to battle Leukemia.

Congratulations also to Peter Friesen and to Peter Laviolette for their continued efforts to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

On a personal note, my maternal grandmother passed away this May after a 16 month battle with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

Here is a PDF file for the brochure to sign up for the 5k run.

There are a number of other ways to contribute to LLS, which is a fantastic organization.

Visit this page for details on how to purchase the red "Relentless" wristbands, individually or in packets of 10.

Visit this page for details on how to make a simple donation.

If you are Canadian, go here to donate to the LLS of Canada.

Additionally, you can contact your Senator or Congressperson and urge them to support increased federal funding for medical research not necessarily limited to human stem cell research.