The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s SC Chapter announces local 2016 Man & Woman of the Year
June 29, 2016
UPSTATE, SC – An Anderson woman and a Simpsonville man have been named the winners of this year’s Man & Woman of the Year of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Upstate, SC Chapter.
The two winners were Susanna Merriman, RN of Anderson, and Cornell Sweeney, Jr. of Simpsonville, who raised over $105,000 and $84,000 respectively to support LLS’s mission to find cures for blood cancers and ensure that patients have access to lifesaving treatments. Cornell Sweeney, Jr. ended the Man and Woman of the Year campaign taking the overall Man of the Year title for the entire state of South Carolina. Susanna Merriman, RN running in loving memory Brian Merriman, ended the campaign as runner up for state of South Carolina.
Cornell Sweeney, Jr. of Simpsonville, Team Good Hands Warriors
During a spirited ten-week fundraising period beginning with a kickoff celebration, candidates across the country compete in honor of a local boy or girl who is a blood cancer survivor to raise the most funds to ensure a world without blood cancers. Candidates and their campaign teams are judged solely on their success in raising money, each dollar counting as one vote. Their totals are then considered for the national title. Candidates in each chapter vie for the local title, and the highest fundraisers nationally earn the title of national Man & Woman of the Year. The national titles will be awarded to the top fundraisers in the country, to be announced this summer.
Susanna Merriman, RN who works for AnMed Health RN participated in loving memory of Brian Merriman, her late husband. Team Merriman’s Solutions Seekers made quite the impact, breaking the South Carolina Woman of the Year’s record from last year. The team, comprised of her 4 kids and friends and family, reached their goal of attaining two Naming Research Rights in Brian’s memory. Cornell Sweeney, Jr. who owns the Allstate Insurance Agency in Simpsonville gave the men’s side a run for their money. Team Good Hand’s Warriors consisted of over 60 Allstate Agency owners across the state, all to remember Cornell’s father and best friend who passed from this disease.
All 8 candidates (Chad Clardy, Cornell Sweeney, Jr., Lisa Jones, Lynn Skidmore, Patrick Noble, Ron Jerina, Susanna Merriman, RN in Loving Memory of Brian Merriman, and Todd Whitley) collectively raised over $353,000 with the incredible support of their campaign teams and community. An amazing 4 out of 8 candidates achieved “Naming Research Rights” level. Congratulations to Team Merriman Solution Seekers (Susanna Merriman in Loving Memory of Brian Merriman), Team Good Hands Warriors (Cornell Sweeney, Jr., Team GE (Patrick Noble), and Team Dukes (Chad Clardy) on this outstanding achievement.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to finding cures for blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
