Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and patient services.

To cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

There are five chapters in Canada including Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver and Halifax. Each chapter provides free patient services to those suffering from blood cancers, as well as manages fundraising campaigns such as Team in Training, Light The Night Walk and School & Youth Programs. The Society also provides services to patients and their families through their Patient Services programs, and runs awareness campaigns through the School & Youth program.

In 2007, an estimated 4,200 Canadians will be diagnosed with leukemia; 7,680 with lymphoma and 2,000 with myeloma.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada was previously the Leukemia Research Fund of Canada.

In 1955, Anne Finkle's visited Detroit for a City of Hope Leukemia Fighters meeting. Upon her return to Toronto, she persuaded four other women to join her on a mission to California, where the City of Hope Hospital was located.

Following this mission, a Toronto chapter was set up and funds went directly to the hospital in California. The organization used blue boxes resembling the hospital to collect money around the city. On May 9, 1957, a provincial charter was issued to 14 women, as members of the newly incorporated City of Hope Leukemia Fighters. Anne Finkle was made president.

Eventually a Toronto hospital was selected to receive funding from the Toronto chapter. On December 22, 1965 the official change to Toronto Leukemia Fighters took place. In the same year, Mount Sinai Hospital was without a government grant for research into leukemia and related blood diseases. That year the Toronto chapter presented the hospital with a cheque for $2,000. Over the next ten years, more than $400,000 would be raised and donated resulting in the dedication of a new Research Laboratory at the hospital in honour of the Leukemia Research Fund. Some of the original members of the Toronto Leukemia fighters were Sarah Sokoloff, Ann Glickman, Greta Sonshine, Bessie Klotz.

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