Everyone loves a three-peat, especially when the winning combination helps provide care and support to people fighting cancer. For the third consecutive year, Subaru of America, Inc. and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) will spread love, hope and warmth to cancer patients and their families in communities across the country. Over the past two years, Subaru Loves to Care, the health-focused initiative of the Subaru Love Promise philanthropic platform, has allowed LLS and Subaru to deliver blankets, messages of hope and arts and crafts kits to 70,000 patients in more than 400 hospitals through 475 Subaru retailers. With the goal of donating more simple comforts to more patients year after year, Subaru and LLS look to achieve a new record during 2018 Subaru Loves to Care month, kicking off in June.
“Subaru Loves to Care is all about improving the health of our local communities and we are proud to once again work alongside our valued partner, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, to continue supporting patients and their families battling cancer,” said Alan Bethke, senior vice president of marketing at Subaru of America. “We hope that through this program, our gestures of hope will comfort and warm those who need it most.”
Where Love Meets Hope
Throughout June, Subaru and LLS will bring the Subaru Loves to Care initiative to life at 498 Subaru retailers across the country. Visitors to Subaru retailers will be given a chance to write personalized messages of hope to cancer patients in their local communities, and anyone can send an online message of support at www.lls.org/subaru. Those who write a message of hope at a Subaru retailer will also receive a reusable tote bag to help spread awareness of LLS and the automaker’s goal to provide hope and care, one gesture at a time.
At the end of June, Subaru retailers will partner with local LLS chapters nationwide to deliver nearly 40,000 blankets and 7,700 arts & crafts kits, along with messages of hope written by Subaru customers, to those fighting cancer in hospitals and treatment centers across the country.
In addition, LLS will be collecting inspiring stories and photographs of recipients to serve as a reminder of the good the Subaru Loves to Care program brings to thousands of patients nationwide. One such survivor is Ethan.
Ethan was just five years old when he was diagnosed with very high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The following years involved countless hospital visits, chemotherapy, bone marrow aspirates, lumbar punctures, steroids and blood transfusions.
Ethan’s sister, Sienna was three years old when this journey began and she was his constant companion. She joined him for many of his hospital visits and was always by his side. Near the end of Ethan’s three-year treatment, he relapsed and was again considered very high-risk. This time, he underwent extensive testing and preparations for a stem cell transplant.
For two months, Sienna experienced her own extensive testing and doctor visits, proving that she was Ethan’s perfect stem cell match. Then, August 9, 2016 proved to be a big day for the inseparable brother and sister, as Sienna underwent a three-hour bone marrow harvest.
Sienna wasn’t fully recovered from her procedure when her stem cells were ready for Ethan, but they Skyped each other from their separate hospital rooms. When their conversation concluded, Sienna proclaimed, “This is the best day of my life, because I got to save my big brother’s life.” Ethan and Sienna call themselves the “Super Sibs.” Now, they share the same stem cells and a bond unlike any other.
According to LLS President and CEO Dr. Louis J. DeGennaro, “The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has helped millions impacted by cancer throughout our almost 70-year history, funding breakthrough research to advance lifesaving treatments and cures, and providing support and advocacy for patients. But the fight against blood cancers cannot be won without supporters such as Subaru and their customers. Every voice, every action, every contribution is needed and valued. We are committed to working tirelessly until we find a cure.”
