The Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation Surpasses $1 Million in Support of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Pediatric Cancer Research Funding

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Feb 01, 2011, 01:00 ET

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation has given The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) a $100,000 gift, surpassing $1 million in its support for LLS's cancer research programs over the past 11 years. The donation will be applied to LLS's pediatric portfolio, funding research to find better therapies for children with cancer.

The Foundation has also joined as a charter member LLS's Blood Cancer Collaborative, a community of like-minded organizations granted exclusive and immediate access through an online portal to LLS and its resources. Collaborative members may share ideas with one another on the LLS Social Network, receive invitations to LLS-hosted scientific presentations, telephone and web education programs and in-person meetings. Collaborative members also have access to links enabling them to connect their donors and patients to blood cancer resources, such as LLS's Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program, Information Resource Center, financial assistance programs, online patient blogs and advocacy information.

The $100,000 donation is being directed to LLS's 2010-11 Pediatric Portfolio, which includes eleven cutting-edge research projects. The portfolio funds basic biology research seeking to more fully understand how normal immune cells mutate to cause blood cancers in children; and translational and clinical researchers developing new therapies. Funding is also supporting development of tests to predict serious late effects caused by treatments so that some of the side effects can be prevented, or susceptible children can be identified and less damaging treatment used when possible.

"The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is truly appreciative of the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation's ongoing support of our mission," said LLS President and CEO John Walter. "The Foundation's generosity is helping us to make great strides in improving the quality of life of children with cancer."

The mission of the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation is to support children battling cancer by funding programs that improve patient's quality of life, treatment programs that increase survivorship and pediatric medical research dedicated to finding a cure.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: 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 and provides free information and support services.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. www.lls.org.