Blood Cancer United - Eastern Pennsylvania & Delaware

10/05/2026

09/26/2026

Valvoline and Blood Cancer United are Driving for a Dream with a special livery on William Byron’s No. 24 for the upcoming race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Designed by Palmer, a 12-year-old blood cancer hero and artist, the colorful beach themed livery represents joy, strength, and resilience.

Take a look at the behind-the-scenes design process of how Emily Butler Lue and Harris Lue of LUE Creative brought Palmer’s vision to life.

09/25/2026

We’re excited to announce Matthew Bassta and Drew Hanford as this year’s Central PA Junior Leadership Committee Co-Chairs!

Matthew and Drew were named the 2026 Student Visionaries of the Year in Central PA after leading a team of more than 50 people and raising over $112,000 in support of Blood Cancer United’s mission. Both are seniors at Central Dauphin High School, where they are members of the soccer team and active in clubs and student leadership.

Please join us in congratulating Matthew and Drew as they continue their commitment to the mission and help inspire this year’s Student Visionaries teams!

09/25/2026

Be Kind to Your Mind 🧘‍♂️🧘‍♀️

Patients, survivors, and caregivers can order a Be Kind to Your Mind wellness box, created with mental well-being in mind. We’re also featured in the September Elephants and Tea September Issue, sharing stories and resources from the blood cancer community.

Check it out and order your box today!
https://bit.ly/4Axg81j

09/25/2026

09/25/2026

"Over 65 years of life, I’ve walked through many difficult seasons, and what I know for certain is this: in every single one, God has been with me, and He has seen me through. But when I got married in February 2023, life felt full again, full of joy, full of plans, full of promise. At my niece’s wedding, while line dancing, I felt a sudden 'pop' in my rib. I never imagined that moment would lead to a diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM), just three months after marrying my sweet husband, Ray.

I had been enjoying retirement after working since I was 14. I survived shingles in 2020 and an emergency appendectomy that same year. I had been savoring time with my five beautiful grandchildren. Then came 2023, a year I expected to spend traveling and building new memories with the love of my life. Instead, pain, muscle spasms, compression fractures, and rib fractures brought everything to a halt.

Looking back, I realized I had been tired and hurting for a long time but had pushed through it, as I always do. My pain tolerance is high, but this was beyond anything I’d ever known. I thought nothing could hurt worse than labor... then shingles came. And then cancer said, ‘Let me show you what pain really is.’

A stem cell transplant on December 29, 2023.

In June 2024, I got the call: I am MRD-negative and still MRD-negative over a year later. God is great! They may say myeloma is incurable, but I know this: nothing is too hard for God. If He did it before, He can do it again.”

For Dawn, "more" meant more time with her new husband, Ray. Just three months after they were married, she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Instead of the travel and adventures they had planned, they faced a blood cancer diagnosis together.

Today, Dawn is MRD-negative and continuing to make memories with her family, her grandchildren, and the life she fought so hard to keep living.

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, and we are working toward a future filled with more. Help us raise more awareness and work toward a future where everyone affected by blood cancer has more time to love, more time to dream, and more time to write the next chapter of their story.

We're working toward more time, more hope, and more tomorrows. Learn more about our resources: https://bcutd.org/3Ufxqzz

09/25/2026

More and more support, guidance, and peace of mind.​

​This Blood Cancer Awareness Month, we want every patient and family to know about a free resource that does not get talked about enough. ​

​Open enrollment is coming, and finding the right health insurance plan for your specific needs may lower your out-of-pocket costs. Our Medical Debt Case Managers provide personalized, one-on-one health insurance evaluations to help prevent future medical debt.​

​Because more and more awareness can lead to more and more action.

Preventing medical debt starts with getting on the right insurance plan. Contact us to learn more 👇
https://bcutd.org/3TLuwT8

09/24/2026

Meet Omar Abdel-Wahab, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

A recent National Academy of Medicine electee Abdel-Wahab’s project studies a mutation in the SRSF2 gene. It shows up in 25% of people with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), 50% of people with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, and 25% of people with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) over age 65. Understanding what's happening at the molecular level with genes like SRSF2 could mean one new drug works across all of these types of blood cancer.

“Finding funding for this project at this early step can be challenging, but will be critical in bringing this treatment closer to patients," says Abdel-Wahab.

This project is part of the more than 250 academic research projects supported through Blood Cancer United's multi-year grants portfolio, all aimed at getting closer to better treatment options.

Learn more ⤵️
https://bcutd.org/3TTQzqR

09/24/2026

Please join us in congratulating Reagan Rykaczewski, Chair of the Delaware Junior Leadership Committee!

A senior at Ursuline Academy, Reagan is entering her third year with the Student Visionary campaign after first getting involved as a candidate during her sophomore year. Through the program, Reagan discovered a passion for service that has helped shape her goals for the future, including plans to study and pursue a career in policy and advocacy. We’re so excited to see Reagan lead this year’s Junior Leadership Committee and help inspire the next class of Student Visionaries!

09/24/2026

Blood Cancer United and the Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation have announced six new research grants as part of their extended HCL2030 partnership. Nearly $7 million will be invested over the next five years in research focused on better understanding what drives hairy cell leukemia and finding better therapies for patients, particularly those with variant disease or relapsed classic hairy cell leukemia.

This , learn more and read the full announcement ⤵️
https://bcutd.org/4hndl1X

09/24/2026

Calling all volunteers!

✨ Light the night. Make a difference. Volunteer with us! ✨

Join the EPA-DE region for Light The Night season and help make these special evenings possible. Whether you’re volunteering through your company, with your community, or on your own, we’d love to have you join us! ❤️🏮

📍 Wilmington, DE | October 17, 2026
📍 Philadelphia, PA | October 24, 2026

Sign up today using the link below and help bring light to the darkness of blood cancer.

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/Avp6a2vrSP

09/23/2026

Our Therapy Acceleration Program (TAP) partners work directly with innovative biotech companies to move the most promising blood cancer research from the lab into clinical trials, faster. TAP looks to change the standard of care while addressing high unmet medical needs.

Royalty Pharma's commitment to TAP is helping power that progress. With this gift of $7.5M, it marks the largest corporate donor donation that our TAP program has received.

Together, that means more treatments and more time for every patient.

Learn more about this impact on TAP ⬇️
https://bcutd.org/4yIm6ee

09/23/2026

We are excited to announce Maeve Falcone as the Junior Leadership Committee Chair for Blood Cancer United in the Greater Philadelphia region!

A senior at Gwynedd Mercy Academy, Maeve brings passion, resilience, and a deep commitment to service to this role. Her connection to the blood cancer mission is deeply personal, inspired by witnessing a best friend’s battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). As a former candidate and Advocacy Award recipient, Maeve has already made a meaningful impact through community outreach and awareness-building.

In her new role, Maeve will help guide and mentor incoming student candidates as they turn their passion into purpose in support of a world without blood cancer. Please join us in congratulating Maeve on this exciting leadership role!

09/23/2026

Pass it along. 💌

If this is your family right now, you are not alone. The Dare to Dream Project is here for every family navigating a pediatric blood cancer with free resources and personalized support every step of the way. Learn more ⤵️
https://bcutd.org/4yWfnxr

09/22/2026

Your brain called. It wants a checklist. 🧠☎️

If your mental checklist is running overtime, you're not alone. As a young adult with blood cancer, there can be a lot to carry—appointments, treatment, relationships, work, and everything in between. It's okay to prioritize your mental health, ask for support, and take things one step at a time. Find free mental health resources for young adults here👇
https://bcutd.org/3TmqQXL

09/22/2026

This is Vivian ❤️

When she was just four months old, her family received the news that she had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Although initially reaching remission, her cancer returned just months later. ​Then a breakthrough treatment called CAR T-cell therapy gave her another chance, and today Vivian is thriving.

Her family is passionate about sharing her story and advocating for continued investment in research that can help more children facing blood cancer.​ 🔬​

To share her story, we’re working with our partners , to highlight Vivian as one of our Honored Heroes for the 2026 campaign! She will be featured throughout September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, at locations nationwide as part of Sock it To Cancer and Unleashed Brands will have commemorative socks that will benefit The Dare to Dream Program. ✨​🧦

09/20/2026

Let’s connect! https://bcutd.org/PA1114

Living Well with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) is a free blood cancer education session built for patients, families, and caregivers to deepen your understanding of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, discover more information about precision medicine, learn about local community resources for cancer patients and meet others who understand your experience.

Thank you to our national sponsors:
US Lilly and Company

A blood cancer diagnosis can affect every aspect of daily life, from treatment decisions to emotional well-being. This program is designed to help patients and caregivers gain knowledge, skills, and confidence to navigate care, manage challenges, and feel supported throughout their journey.

09/17/2026

We’re proud to welcome our newest Eastern PA-DE Board of Trustee members: Kevin Rakszawski, M.D., Nick Siciliano, Ph.D., Neil Stalter, and Susan Stein, MPH! ✨

Together, they bring an inspiring mix of experience and deep community commitment to our mission. Their perspectives will help strengthen Blood Cancer United’s work to support patients, families, caregivers, researchers, and advocates across the blood cancer community.

Please join us in celebrating our new members as they begin their service on the Board of Trustees. Drop a note of welcome and congratulations in the comments! ❤️👇

09/14/2026

Looking for trusted information and expert guidance on blood cancer––we’ve got you! 🎗️

Join Blood Cancer United for a FREE VIRTUAL education event created for blood cancer patients, survivors, family members, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.

Hear from experts in blood cancer research, treatment, and survivorship as they share the latest on treatment options, emerging therapies, support resources.

Secure your virtual spot at our annual blood cancer conference—register today!

Register today 👉 bcutd.org/BCC26

Leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are types of cancer that can affect the bone marrow, the blood cells, the lymph nodes, and other parts of the lymphatic system.

09/14/2026