Leslie Zenner, age 25
 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Survivor
 San Jose, CA

Two months after Leslie turned 21, she was diagnosed with stage three Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. At the time, she was working and beginning her senior year in college. Chemotherapy, work and school turned out to be too much to handle, so she decided that she needed to just focus on her health.

After a year of intense chemotherapy, Leslie returned to school., only to relapse a couple of months later. She underwent an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant and four weeks of radiation, but once again she was only cancer free for a couple of months.

She graduated and adopted a puppy, and now, at 25, she is still undergoing chemotherapy, hoping for the final cure, but not letting that stand in the way of her happiness. Leslie says, "Cancer may have changed my pace of life, but it hasn't stopped me from living."

 

Christopher Holteen, age 8
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Survivor
Redwood City, CA

Christopher was two years old when he was diagnosed with ALL. After his diagnosis, Christopher spent three and a half weeks in the hospital. For the next two years of his life, he received different types of chemotherapy treatments. Christopher has endured countless hospital visits for a variety of procedures.

Christopher finished his chemo treatments on December 15, 2007. He is currently in remission and is doing great. He is almost done with the 2nd grade and is looking forward to summer. Christopher will be considered cured in 2012.

Christopher is a happy, wild and crazy eight year old boy who loves playing baseball and hockey with his friends. He and his family are active participants on Light The Night!

  

Nathan Galicia, age 16
Non-Hodgkin's T-Cell Lymphoma Survivor
San Mateo, CA

What began with a simple cold and a few swollen lymph nodes turned into a parent's biggest nightmare. Our 14-year-old son, Nathan, was a typical teen finishing his Freshman year in high school, studying hard and thrilled to have won four gold metals in a martial arts tournament a week before being diagnosed. After a week of tests, on June 12, 2009 he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. Everything was just go, go, go for the first 6 months of intense chemotherapy! Weekly IV infusions, spinal taps, blood tests, blood transfusions, in addition to various side effects from the drugs. Two months after the diagnosis, he was in "full remission." His treatment will continue until August 2011 to ensure the cancer doesn't return.

Despite the daunting obstacles he faced, Nathan was not going to let a cancer diagnosis control his life. He approached his new life with a whole new attitude and his infectious smile and strength kept our family going. Keeping up with his schoolwork, playing jazz saxophone and piano inspired him to keep positive throughout his treatment. With zealous determination, he finished his Sophomore year with a 4.0 GPA, taking all honors classes! Nathan says, "If I can tolerate cancer treatment, nothing else can hold me back!" Now 16, a Junior in high school and back in school full-time, he is excited to be among his peers again.

We thank The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for all their support. In October 2009, our friends and family formed a team and fundraised for the Light The Night Walk in Nathan's honor. Unfortunately, he was in the hospital and couldn't participate. However at the October 2010 walk, he delivered an inspirational speech and shared his personal story on battling cancer. After high school. he plans to pursue a career that can benefit other cancer patients, such as cancer research.

As told by Regina Louie -- Nathan's mom

 

In Memory...

Jennifer Juanes
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Jennifer Juanes had a very normal childhood. She was naturally bright and athletic and even at a young age had the unique ability to make people laugh. She loved playing softball and although she didn't have to try very hard, Jen was naturally a star. As she grew older she became a self-proclaimed "girly-girl", who loved make-up and clothes and above all, her long beautiful hair. Jen always stood out in a crowd. Her beauty was truly captivating. 

Jen loved her family and was fiercely loyal to those she loved. She was also extremely feisty and vibrant and lived life exhilaratingly with no regrets. Jen was incredibly funny. She could make even a stranger laugh with her impersonations and goofy mannerisms. Everyone wanted to be around her and loved her from the moment they met her.

Jen also met the love of her life in high school. Brandon was a star football player at Wilcox High School and Jen, an All League softball at Fremont High School . Their attraction and love for each other was immediate and would prove to be a true love story.

On September 3, 2006, Jen's "normal" life was turned upside down. At the young age of 20, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Overnight, her life went from school, family and friends to grueling treatments and hospital stays. Jen finished chemotherapy in May 2007, and although the loss of her hair was difficult, her feisty attitude, sense of humor, and the love and support of her family and friends helped her to overcome the most trying time of her life.

Jen was relentless through it all. Jen had an amazing way of living through her illness. She NEVER stopped living. She battled hard and still kept a normalcy that you don't often see in patients her age. She was tough. She was often told she had the heart of a tiger. 

Jen relapsed in August of 2009 and after undergoing radiation, chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, lost her battle to leukemia on May 19, 2010.

 

Noelle Valladares
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)

Noelle was born on December 27, 1979. She  graduated from St.Matthew's Catholic School, Notre Dame Belmont High School and UC Davis.  She had completed the first year of SF State's Master Program . She had planned to continue her studies at UC Berkeley or Stanford.  In 2008,  Noelle  transitioned from a career in fashion merchandising to a career in finance. 

Noelle loved life!  She was very creative , full of energy,  ideas, dreams and  plans. Noelle was compassionate, always helping others,  devoted to her friends and family. Her passions included fashion, art, music, travel, dance, literature.

Noelle 's 2011 goals (as she posted on her Facebook page) " My 2011 goals are to travel as much as I can this year, write my story and spend time with my closest family and friends.  Don't take life, health or each day for granted.  Live every day to the fullest!" She wrote this on December 28, 2010 in the wee hours, while her birthday guests slept at the Claremont Hotel.  Only a few hours later, Noelle was rushed to UCSF in distress and doctors informed her family, "that  the time has come and it was hopeless".  Noelle continued to fight, until we gave her permission to rest in peace.

Noelle was diagnosed with AML on June 26, 2008. She was 28 years old. Noelle lost her battle on January 1, 2011. She had just celebrated her 31st birthday in style!

Noelle's legacy is inspiring and will live on in us all.

 

Jim DeLaney
Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Jim DeLaney served as a mentor, training captain and last but not least, on inspiration and an Honoree on many Team in Training teams in the last 15 years.  He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at age 30 and managed to battle this cell type three times that culminated in a bone marrow transplant in 2008.  Six months later, squamous cell cancer in the tongue appeared and more battles ensued.  The cell type had a vice grip on Jim and despite it's repeated progression in the last year and a half, Jim lived well, continued to work at Sony Electronics, loved wholeheartedly and continued to train to the best of his ability.  He gave his heart, his mind, his technical savvy and helping hands to anyone he met along his path.  Those that supported the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society were a second family to Jim.  At age 53, Jim was prematurely taken from this earth.  He is survived by his wife, Jen, his beloved dog, Tucker and three siblings along with his father.  Although the disease won, all whom have met Jim will remember one infamous saying. "Go Long."...as did he, always, every time, without a blink, without a complaint, without a hint of pain or discomfort, completely selfless was he.  Not many can say that despite 7 bouts of cancer, they have completed 80 triathlons. Jim Can.  Say Yes, as you Light the Night and from this day forward. Open your heart and your mind to life's opportunities and challenges.  Jim's smiling with you on your path. Yes, he is.