Other Blood Cancers

My name is Miriam Hernandez, and I have been a long-time volunteer with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). I first started volunteering in 2010 working with the LLS Greater Los Angeles Region and their Patient Services Team to help with outreach into the Latino community in Los Angeles.

As a First Connection volunteer with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for almost two years, I have had the opportunity to connect with patients and survivors to share their stories and experiences while battling this deadly illness. Every day I come across so many touching and courageous stories that inspire me to do more and more to support this cause.

Thank you on behalf of the Freeman Wilner Family for this Honored Hero Award in memory of my father, Dr. Freeman Wilner, he was a hero to many.

My name is Jaime Fernandez and I am a Clinical Social Worker with UCI Health. I have the pleasure and honor of working with individuals diagnosed with blood cancers. Supporting my patients and their loved ones as they navigate these diagnoses has become my driving force.

Michele Synder decided she wanted to volunteer with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) because she herself and millions of others have been impacted by cancer. Both of Michele’s parents passed away from cancer and during that time, a lot of people were there for them. She knows how important that was for her and her family. That support provided them with so much comfort and healing.

It all began in 2010 after my friend Cara and I ran the LA Marathon. We had already trained on our own for the 26.2 miles race. I thought, “Why not just keep running?” That’s when I found the nonprofit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and their fundraising program called Team In Training (TNT)!

I joined Team In Training (TNT) in 2012, when I decided I wanted to train and run my first half marathon. Some of my friends had told me about their success with the program, and while I didn't have a personal connection to The Leukemia & Lymphoma  (LLS), it was obviously a worthy cause and I felt I could handle the fundraising aspect.