May 17, 2013–More than 400 attendees joined The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at the Fairmont Millennium Park for the culminating gala of LLS’s annual Man & Woman of the Year campaign. In the 10 weeks leading up to the gala, local leaders in the business and philanthropic communities competed to raise the most money for LLS. After an evening of dinner, auctions, inspirational messages from two young blood cancer survivors, and more, Ryan Van Pelt and Barbara Bernick were announced as the 2013 Illinois Man & Woman of the Year for their fundraising achievements. Together the 13 candidates raised more than $775,000 for cancer research and patient support services.