A 10-week campaign to raise as much money as possible for cancer research is underway in the Treasure Valley.
On Your Side has all the details on this year's Man and Woman of the Year contest to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or LLS.
LLS provides research that funds more than 40 percent of all cancer treatment drugs currently on the market in U.S.
In addition, their mission not only includes the goal of finding a cure for blood cancers but to improve the quality of life of those afflicted by the disease, offering locals a beam of light upon receiving a diagnosis.
"It's thee darkest diagnosis, it's the darkest time in somebody's life and LLS is there to provide hope and to provide resources," says Alisha Phillips, revenue director for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Heather Harrington, representing GiveStorm, Maxgiving and NLP Secure, was nominated to be a candidate for 2017's Woman of the Year. Every time a credit or debit card is swiped using a digital donation station at Taylor Law Offices in Boise, her tally goes up.
But more importantly, Harrington says, is that you're supporting a cause that affects so many people's lives.
"When I think about my kids and I think about losing them to a blood disease.. that's terrifying to me," she says. "So, anything I can do for somebody else's kids that have cancer.. that's a big deal to me."
Attorney Matthew Taylor won the title of Man of the Year in 2016. This year, he opened his office up for any one of the 13 candidates to host fundraising events. The man and woman who raise the most will be crowned 2017 Man or Woman of the Year.
"I will be absolutely ecstatic to give up the sash to somebody else because I know exactly how much work it takes in order to win," Taylor says.
There are another five weeks left for the contest. Harrington is bringing in comedian Orny Adams on April 1 as one of her fundraisers.
For more information or to view the other candidates, visit http://www.mwoy.org/oswim/localchapter/id/candidates.
