Blood Cancer United - San Diego & Hawaii

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

Special Message from Jocelyn, last year's San Diego Light The Night Honored Hero! ❤

Childhood Cancer Fact:
➡️ Did you know? Nearly 1 in 3 childhood cancer diagnosis is leukemia.

Register at https://lightthenight.org/events/san-diego-0 to walk withJocelyn at San Diego Light The Night on November 7 at Waterfront Park.

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

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

09/23/2026

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

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

09/16/2026

Blood Cancer Awareness Month is for every single person in this community. ❤️

Whatever stage you are in, find resources here at the 🔗 in our bio.

09/08/2026

We are proud to introduce the newest member of our Board of Trustees, Keegan Moore! Thank you Keegan for your dedication and support to our mission.

Our Board of Trustees reflects a powerful collective of leaders whose guidance, passion, and vision help drive our work forward. We are strengthening our impact and moving closer to a world without blood cancers.

Please join us in welcoming Keegan 👏

09/01/2026

Summer highlights with our San Diego Light the Night Honored Hero, Josie!
✨ Winning a silver medal 🥈 in the Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival (cancer division) with the Team Survivor Sea Dragons 🌊🐉
✨ Subaru blankets drop-off for the hospital she was treated at, UCSD Health in La Jolla. “Very cathartic experience to be able to give back and visit the nurses who treated me” - Josie 🧡

Walk with Josie at San Diego Light the Night on Saturday, November 7 at Waterfront Park! ✨ Click the 🔗 in the bio to register today in honor of September 🩸 and 🎗️

08/04/2026

We are proud to introduce the newest member of our Board of Trustees, Kyle Adams! Thank you Kyle for your dedication and support to our mission.

Please join us in welcoming Kyle to the Board 🎉

07/31/2026

Maddie was just 21 years old when she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia—both AML and ALL with the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph+). After months of being misdiagnosed, she finally received her diagnosis on March 13, 2023. She immediately began intensive chemotherapy and spent her first month in the hospital. Her journey was anything but easy. She endured multiple infections, 15 lumbar punctures, countless procedures, and spent the majority of her battle in the hospital receiving treatment. There were many tears along the way, but through it all, Maddie faced every challenge with extraordinary strength, resilience, and an incredible sense of humor that inspired everyone around her.

Losing Maddie has left a hole in our hearts that can never be filled. She is missed beyond words every single day. While our hearts will always carry the weight of her loss, we are committed to honoring her life and keeping her beautiful spirit alive by helping others facing the same battle.” - Sarah, Maddie’s mom

Thank you, Sarah, for sharing about Maddie and honoring her life by helping other families ❤️

07/17/2026

Free Blood Cancer Education Event 🩸

Join us for Living Well with Myeloma—a free session for patients, families, and caregivers to learn, connect, and build community. Whether you are newly diagnosed, currently receiving treatment, in remission, or supporting someone with multiple myeloma, this program will provide trusted information, practical resources, and opportunities to connect with others who understand the journey. ❤️

📅 Date: Saturday, September 26th
🕒 Time: 9:30am – 1:00pm
📍 Location: Bahia Resort Hotel, 998 W Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, CA 92109
💬 Free to attend — RSVP today!
➡️ https://bcutd.org/SOCAL926

Thank you to our national sponsors: AbbVie, AstraZeneca US,
Genentech, GSK, Merck

Living with multiple myeloma can bring many questions, from understanding treatment options to managing side effects and maintaining your quality of life. Join Blood Cancer United for an engaging educational program designed to empower patients, survivors, care partners, and loved ones with practica...

07/14/2026

As their term comes to a close, we extend our deepest gratitude to our departing Board of Trustees members: Erika Schimmel Guiles, Lucy Labruzzo, and Jeff Peters. Their leadership, passion, and commitment have helped move our mission forward in meaningful ways, touching the lives of patients and families impacted by blood cancer.

We are so thankful for the time, insight, and heart they’ve given to Blood Cancer United. While their board service concludes, their impact will continue to be felt for years to come. We wish them all the best of luck and look forward to the many ways they will continue to make an impact.

07/13/2026

"In 2008, our son Chris Long, was a 22 year old young man just starting to get his life on track. He was feeling sick for a week or so and made his way to the emergency room on the behest of his sister, Rhiannon. He was then diagnosed with Leukemia and while preparations were being made to transfer him to UCLA for treatment, he passed away. This was approximately 10 hours after diagnosis. We were in Scotland on a "dream" vacation that turned into a nightmare. Not being able to be with your child during what had to be the most scary experience for him, was the worst. Even though we were not able to utilize the services of Blood Cancer United, we made it our mission to honor his memory by creating a non-profit, Primate Aflame Charities. We raise funds for college scholarships for two of our local high schools, as well as donating to Blood Cancer United each year so that others can benefit from the resources available." - Julie and Stan, Chris' parents

Thank you, Julie and Stan, for sharing about Chris and your story. ❤ This National Bereaved Parents Awareness Month, we honor all bereaved parents and families.

06/29/2026

This month, we honor and celebrate National Cancer Survivors Month and Father’s Day.

“Father’s Day weekend of 2021, that’s where my journey began when I was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. Then, on Thursday, July 22, just one month after that initial visit and before I could meet with the oncologist, I started losing blood, was rushed to the ER, transferred to an ICU unit where I was kept in a coma, fully intubated and was given multiple transfusions. This was the next two weeks of our lives. A diagnosis that as a family, we had not had time to fully process yet, turned into Drs saying, “He might not make it,” multiple times, turned into me losing over 2 gallons of blood and receiving 9+ transfusions. I was woken up after two weeks of being fully intubated as my family was told if I did not start chemotherapy treatments now, I would be given about one month to live. Instead, my family rallied around me as we prayed and we fought together, helping me learn to walk again, flushing out pic lines on a nightly basis, taking me to follow up appointments for infections, and don’t forget the chemo treatments every 21 days, consisting of 1 steroid and 4 chemo’s each treatment, know as the RCHOP.
Now, Father’s Day weekend of 2026, 5 years later, my 5-year PET scan and lab results show unremarkable, I am Lymphoma free! There is no better way to spend a Father’s Day weekend than to celebrate that with your family. To those that are still in the battle in whatever way that looks like for you, I am with you. Yes, we celebrate my 5 years but still carry the scars from this journey. Also, we are still in the fight, as I was diagnosed in April of 2025 with prostate cancer. Each day is such a gift though and we refuse to let this life rob us of the joy in each day, even the days that just suck. We will fight to find joy each day.”

Thank you, Joel, for sharing your story and inspiring us to find the joy each day.