The Man & Woman of the Year (MWOY) campaign is a spirited fundraising competition in communities across the U.S. in which participants compete to raise the most funds for LLS blood cancer research, in honor of local children who are blood cancer survivors.
Although her goal was only $150,000, Amanda actually raised $489,417 for the LLS South Central Texas Chapter, which is the most money ever raised by an individual nationwide for the LLS Man & Woman of the Year campaign.
In Honor Of Robin
Amanda explained why she joined this campaign on her fundraising page:
I am running my campaign in memory of Robin Bush, the late daughter of my husband’s grandparents President George H.W. and Barbara Bush, who you may know died of leukemia at age 3.  When they learned that their precious daughter had leukemia, Ganny and Gampy were understandably frightened and uncertain as neither of them had ever heard of leukemia, and in that day, leukemia had no cure. The doctors told them to make Robin comfortable and to let nature take its course as there was nothing more they could do for her.
Six months later, Robin died on October 11, 1953.  In one of her final moments with Gampy, Robin looked up at him with her beautiful blue eyes and said, “I love you more than tongue can tell,” a loving phrase they often used with each other.  To this day, Gampy gets choked up talking about their incredible loss.
We have come a long way since 1953, but there is still so much work to be done to completely eradicate blood cancer. If Robin were diagnosed with leukemia today, she probably would have lived given the tremendous advances in cancer research.  Childhood cancers like the one that killed Robin have shown some of the largest improvements in the last few decades—today, the five-year survival rate is over 91%.  Back in Robin’s day, however, almost every childhood cancer was fatal.
This is where you come in. LLS, founded in 1949, is the world’s largest health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. LLS has invested more than $1 billion in research that has led to advances in many programs. Yet, every 4 minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer. Every 10 minutes someone dies. And leukemia remains the leading cause of cancer death in children and young adults under the age of 20.
About Amanda
Amanda Bush frequently serves as outside counsel to her clients, advising them on corporate and legal strategies, assisting with legal and business development, and managing a broad array of legal matters. Amanda also represents clients in a variety of litigation matters including complex commercial matters, intellectual property, and media and First Amendment. Leveraging her legal, political, and philanthropic experiences, she is uniquely positioned to ensure that her clients are able to accomplish their objectives.
