The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1949, is the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting blood cancer in the world. The LLS's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS is headquartered in Rye Brook, New York, with 56 chapters throughout the United States and five chapters in Canada. LLS has six signature fundraising campaigns: Team In Training, the largest charitable endurance training program in the world; Light The Night, an annual series of community-based walkathons; Man & Woman of the Year, a series of annual ten-week long, community-based competitions in which adults raise funds in honour of local children who have survived blood cancer; Students of the Year, an annual series of seven-week long, community-based fundraising competitions amongst high school students; Leukemia Cup Regatta, a series of fundraising sailing events held by yacht clubs across North America; and Pennies for Patients, a programme providing North American elementary and middle schools with access to STEM curricula. In addition to the main campaigns, there is LLS Lifestyle, in which groups and individuals, through their local chapters, can turn any activity or event into a vehicle for fundraising. History Originally known as the Robert Roesler de Villiers Foundation, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was founded in New York City in 1949 by Rudolph and Antoinette de Villiers after the death of their son Robert from leukemia. The name of the organization was later changed to the Leukemia Society, then to the Leukemia Society of America in the 1960s, and later to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in 2000 to reflect the organization's focus on all types of blood cancer. Research Since its founding, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has invested more than $1.2 billion (USD) in blood cancer research, funding nearly all of today's most promising treatments. As there are no means of preventing blood cancers, the LLS research agenda is focused on finding treatments and cures. The organization funds research in areas of unmet medical need and helps to bridge the gap between academic discovery and drug development. Acute leukemia Acute myeloid leukemia Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rapidly progressing disease that remains one of the most deadly blood cancers, killing more than 10,000 Americans a year. Despite advances in treating other blood cancers, the standard of treatment for