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Garrett Bedenbaugh, other Men & Women of the Year help Leukemia & Lymphoma Society raise $479K

Action News Jax First Alert Meteorologist Garrett Bedenbaugh was a candidate for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Man of the Year.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Through his 10-week Man of the Year campaign, Action News Jax First Alert Weather Meteorologist Garrett Bedenbaugh and other Men and Women of the Year helped the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Jacksonville raise more than $479,000.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) says its Man & Woman of the Year campaign is a 10-week philanthropic competition for leaders in local communities across the United States.

Here’s how it works: Candidates like Garrett and their teammates raise funds for LLS in honor of local blood cancer survivors, the Boy & Girl of the Year. The title “Man or Woman of the Year” is awarded to the candidate whose team raises the most funds during the competition. The top man & woman candidate in the country are awarded with the national title.

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LLS said this fundraiser helps fund therapies and treatments that are saving lives. Funds raised have been responsible for the blood cancer advancements that have doubled, tripled, and in some cases quadrupled the survival rate for some blood cancers.

LLS said many of the therapies it supports not only help blood cancer patients but are also now used to treat patients with rare forms of stomach and skin cancers and are in clinical trials for patients with lung, brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers.

For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org.

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