Craig Fiegener
InstantRiverside.com

During the next few weeks InstantRiverside.com is going to devote extra coverage to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Each year the organization recruits people from the community to help promote awareness about the disease. Leukemia is blood cancer, while Lymphoma is a cancer that attack the cells in the immune system. Both cancers are treatable, but often not without uncomfortable consequences.

LLS is a non-profit organization that raises money for research, and helps families emotionally.

One of their biggest fundraisers is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Man & Woman of the Year.” Candidates are nominated by members of the community. In my case it was Riverside Medical Clinic’s Ruthan Smith.

Once I learned the story about a Riverside girl, Cyhthia Aguirre (pictured right), and just 6, I knew I needed to become involved. Fortunately, Cynthia is doing well today. She’s an active child, and you’ll get to meet her in our reports here on InstantRiverside.com.

The mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families, according to LLS.

My job, as a nominee, is to promote awareness. If you are able you can donate to LLS. The organization has a website, with a dedicated page for InstantRiverside.com. You can do everything online, as far as donations are concerned– every dollar helps. (All of the money is collected and administered by LLS.)

Yes, there is a friendly competition underway between me and other notable nominees from the Inland Empire, Evelyn Erives, of KGGI-FM, is among the handful of nominees. Each dollar we raise counts as a vote. Frankly, I’ll be incredibly flattered by all donations.

If you can donate, do it responsibly; only as you can afford. If you can’t donate, please follow our coverage. For me, just knowing that we’re helping Riversiders learn more about this disease, is my reward. It is core to the mission of InstantRiverside.com as a news organization.

In 2007 I lost my father, Jerry Fiegener, to cancer. He died 7 months after his diagnosis. I will never forget hearing the doctor utter the word “cancer.” Unfortunately his condition was too advanced for successful treatment. That’s another reason why this cause is so meaningful to me.

We each become stronger as people, and as a community, by bonding together– in this case it’s with information. The Leukemia Lymphoma Society is leading the effort, and I am honored to be a part of the cause.