A Danielsville woman and a Pottstown man have been named Woman of the Year and Man of the Year, for the Lehigh Valley chapter, in this year’s fundraising campaign for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The two winners, Valerie Lewis, vice president of employee and community engagement at BSI Corporate Benefits, and Darren Betters, director of development at Lehigh Valley International Airport, raised $121,655 and $115,897, respectively, to support LLS’ goal to find cures for blood cancers and ensure that patients have access to lifesaving treatments.

During a spirited 10-week fundraising period, beginning with a kickoff celebration, candidates across the country competed in honor of a local boy or girl who is a blood cancer survivor to raise the most funds to ensure a world without blood cancers.

Candidates and their campaign teams were judged solely on fundraising success, each dollar counting as one vote. Their totals are then considered for the national title. Candidates in each LLS chapter across the country vie for the local title, and the highest fundraisers earn the title of National Man and Woman of the Year. The national titles will be awarded to the top fundraisers in the country and will be announced this summer.

This year serves as the 10-year anniversary in Lehigh Valley, and seven men and seven women stepped up to the challenge to raise money for blood cancer research. This year’s class of candidates set a goal of raising $650,000 and a personal mission of not only raising funds to help create a world without blood cancers, but also raising awareness for LLS’ goal to cure blood cancers and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

“Congratulations to our winners and to all of our candidates and campaign team members who participated in this year’s Man and Woman of the Year campaign,” said Pamela Formica, LLS Lehigh Valley area director. “These exceptional volunteers are all passionate and determined individuals and leaders in their communities. Together, we are getting closer to LLS’ goal of a world without blood cancer.”

LLS is the world’s leading nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding cures for blood cancers and ensuring patients have access to lifesaving treatments. Every nine minutes, someone in the United States dies of a blood cancer. Through programs like Man and Woman of the Year, LLS has invested more than $1.2 billion in research to advance breakthrough therapies. In 2017 alone, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved 18 therapies to treat patients with blood cancers, including some entirely new agents and some new uses for already approved drugs. The funds raised through LLS’ Man and Woman of the Year are used for the following.

• Research to advance targeted therapies and immunotherapies that are saving thousands of lives

• Blood cancer information, education and support for patients

• Policies that ensure patients have access to blood cancer treatments

The LLS mission is to 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, N.Y., LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit LLS.org.