00594 Report2C Digital 2020-04-30 - Flipbook - Page 29
THANK YOU TOP ONLINE
PEER-TO-PEER FUNDRAISERS
Those who fundraise on behalf of Be The Match make a tremendous impact.
By engaging their personal networks, these champions raised $5,000 or
more, either personally or through a team, to directly support our mission.
2019 6th annual Charity Handgun Course – Lance
Reeter, Tatiana Penners
2019 Miami Cancer Center Awareness Day
2019 Michigan Marrow Walk – Matthew Fast, Liz
Carson
2019 Missy Ginnetti Hope Gala – Pat Ginnetti
2019 The Buckeye Be The Match 5K – Lisa Maxson,
Tom Kendall
2019 Tokio Marine Next Gen Leadership Group
2019 Triad Be The Match 5K – Amy Nelson
A3M Walk+Run To Go – Asians for Miracle Marrow
Matches
Minneapolis Board of Ambassadors
Regina Murphy Memorial Golf Tournament – Kevin
Padilla
Sean Crush Cancer – Sean Walsh
Senior Leadership Team – Be The Match
Rene Sigman
Michael Stewart
Saira Sufi
Swab 4 Laila
Todd Teach
Team Ben – Todd Teach
Brandon Ackley
Team Lifeblood 2019 – Bob Falkenberg
AJ Law Golf
Team Mrun – Jamie Nielsen
Arlington Walk+Run To Go – Kira Aubrey
Upenn Hero Walk
Annie Ballantine
Roby Walls
Be The Match Tough Mudder Team – Jared Johnson,
Kristi Lindstrom
Sean Walsh
Be The Match Twin Cities Marathon and 10 Mile Elicia Bechard
Because I Care – Anita Quinn
Breanna Rocks fundraiser
Gillian Brewer
Arthur Damon
Fore Leukemia Golf Tournament
Iowa State University
Kelly Lieser
Andrew Lippman
Duncan MacBride
Maryland Department of Public Safety and
Correctional Services
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William & Mary Bone Marrow Club
Alyssa Zimmer
CYCLE OF LIFE
Bob Falkenberg
Bob Falkenberg was
fortunate to find a perfect
match and receive a blood
stem cell transplant in late
2009 after being diagnosed
with acute lymphoblastic
leukemia. He was grateful for
the opportunity to meet his
donor, Jason, and calls the
encounter a powerful and
life-altering experience.
Bob started cycling during
his recovery and formed
Team Lifeblood in 2011 to
raise awareness and funds
for Be The Match. His first
big ride was 18 months posttransplant. Team Lifeblood
consists of Bob and his wife,
Karen (Bob’s caregiver),
their daughter, Katie, Bob’s
transplant doctor, Dr. Amelia
Langston, and several other
friends and transplant
recipients. Bob says that
his mission is to show
others that “this is what
survivorship can look like.”
Since getting involved with Be The Match, he has held a Team
Lifeblood campaign each year. In 2019, Bob and fellow transplant
recipient Annie Lipsitz completed an epic 4,000 mile bike ride
across the country, raising critical funds and awareness with the
help of Perla Brett. Bob is consistently active on social media
posting weekly and sometimes daily about Be The Match.
Moreover, when we have a new idea about fundraising or raising
awareness, the joke has become “Let’s call Bob,” because he is
truly game for anything that might help Be The Match and all
other searching patients. Since 2011, Bob has raised more than
$85,000 for Be The Match through his Team Lifeblood efforts!
THANK YOU
BOARD OF AMBASSADORS
Members of the Be The Match Board of Ambassadors play a crucial
role in our mission, serving as representatives of Be The Match within
their community. These volunteers are dedicated to identifying,
engaging and building relationships with individuals and corporations
in support of Be The Match Distinguished Events to advance our lifesaving mission.
Atlanta
Chicago
Minneapolis Bash
Perla Brett
Michelle Pretlow
Jason Ahlgren
Dr. Amelia Langston
Chad and Kory LaMont
Katie Amys
Sarah Langville
Haley Dickson
Cara Pagels
Minneapolis Gala
Kate Wrammert
Annie Ballentine
Anna Gallenberger
Colleen Brady
Katie Harris
New York
Annie Eversman
Heidi Hoyt
Brian Berg
Annie Heggernes
Nick Jellum
John Camiolo
Lisa Hellem
Andrew Larson
Karen Cohen
Alex Hubbell
Kelly Lieser
Gary Goldberg
James Meyerson
Joan Maher
Bruce Manasevit
Veronica Lawrence
Kelly McQueen
Roger Paschke
Lauren Tangen
Mary Foster Murray
Jennifer Rubel
Mara Wangen
Susan Eiden
Abigail West
Toni Dandrea
Minneapolis Employees
Los Angeles
Kris Poppi
Amy Ronneberg
Krissy Kobata
Erin Van Dorn
Kristy Nguyen
Jason Labinger
Eric Forstrom
Bree Forstrom
Renee O’Brien
Julie Smolich
Kristi Lindstrom
Evan Babekuhl
Heidi Bohachek
Tim Tripp
Pearl Wistl
Melissa Mignano
KEEPING UP THE FIGHT
At 25 years old, Krissy Kobata
was diagnosed with the blood
disorder myelodyplastic syndrome
and needed a blood stem cell
transplant. Being of mixed race
(Japanese and Caucasian) the
search was not easy. In fact, Krissy’s
search took 10 years before she got
the news that a match was found,
enabling her to receive a life-saving
transplant. Since her diagnosis,
Krissy Kobata, transplant recipient
Krissy has been a Be The Match
and Board of Ambassadors member
champion and advocate. She has
hosted multiple fundraisers, donation
drives and served as the Board of Ambassador’s lead for the Los Angeles
soiree. Thank you, Krissy, for your dedication and commitment to Be The
Match and helping others find their life-saving match.
From Krissy:
“I was so very lucky and fortunate to receive my life-saving blood stem
cell transplant and the past 2 years have been all about recovering and
getting back on my feet. I’m now free of my fatal disease and have a
whole new life to plan for without the burden of worrying about whether
or not I would be here.
I’ve received so much love and support that this truly feels like a team
and that not only I went through this process, but all of you along with
me. There were times that were very difficult, but knowing I had this
support lifted me out of those depths. I truly am blessed and grateful to
have each and every one of you in my corner!
The fight, however, does not stop with me. There are so many patients
still waiting for their matches to come so that they can proceed with
transplants. I can’t tell you how painful it is to be in this waiting game. It’s
not one that you sign up for willingly and it’s not one that you can control.
All you can do is hope that more and more people join the registry.
My donor came from Be the Match, and I wouldn’t be here without her.”
Please join us to raise funds in support of the transformational initiatives
and critical discoveries that are helping more patients with lifethreatening blood cancers and disorders advance to transplant, survive
their treatment journey and enjoy longer, healthier lives.”
2019 Report to the Community | 27