For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrea Greif
(914) 821-8958
andrea.greif@lls.org

Forms Team Kareem for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night® Walk

White Plains, NY (July 26, 2010) - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, basketball legend and the NBA's all-time leading scorer, is asking his supporters to join him in taking a shot at beating cancer by joining his team - Team Kareem.

In 2009, after Kareem's diagnosis with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, (Ph+ CML), a slow progressing type of blood cancer1, he initiated a CML education program with Novartis Oncology to show people that they are not alone in fighting this disease. Now, Kareem and Novartis Oncology have partnered with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to create Team Kareem, a national team whose aim is to raise money for cancer research, through participation in LLS's annual Light The Night® Walk.

Held on fall evenings in communities across the U.S., Light The Night Walk is LLS's fundraising event to pay tribute and bring hope to people battling cancer. More than 250,000 people participate in these leisurely walks throughout the country to help raise funds for vital, lifesaving research. Kareem will participate in the walk at the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on October 14th.

"I couldn't believe it when I found out I had leukemia," Kareem says. "But I was lucky. Thanks to life-saving research, I can take a medication every day to keep my cancer in check, and this gives me hope for the future. Please join my team so we can bring this hope to others by raising funds for this important cause."

Team Kareem teams will be established in each of LLS's U.S. chapters and members will fundraise and participate in walks in their own communities. Team members who meet certain fundraising goals will be eligible to win signed Kareem basketballs and other items.

"We are thrilled to have legendary basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar involved in our Light The Night Walk and I look forward to seeing him at the Brooklyn Bridge walk on October 14th," said Nancy L. Klein, chief marketing and revenue officer of LLS. "Kareem's message of hope is so inspirational and we anticipate that many of his fans will be eager to join the Team. To that end, he created a special video on the importance of signing up for Team Kareem, which you can view at www.lightthenight.org/teamkareem."

Kareem credits decades of research, assisted by funding from LLS, with leading to FDA-approved therapies that help him to manage his leukemia. Ph+ CML is characterized by an abnormality known as the Philadelphia chromosome, which produces a protein called Bcr-Abl, identified as the sole cause and driver of CML. Kareem encourages others living with Ph+ CML to regularly have their blood tested to know their Bcr-Abl score, and speak with their doctors to set a disease management goal2. He also encourages them to seek support from their peers via CML Earth (CMLearth.com), a social network dedicated to helping people affected by CML.

To learn more about Team Kareem or to join the Team, visit www.lightthenight.org/teamkareem. To follow Team Kareem on Facebook, become a fan of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - CML Patient and Advocate and the Light The Night Friends & Family fan pages.

About Light The Night Walk
Light the Night® Walk (LTN) is a leisurely evening walk held in over 200 different cities and covering every major market in the U.S. Walkers carry illuminated balloons to celebrate the lives of those affected by cancer - white balloons for survivors, gold balloons to remember those who have died and red balloons for friends, families & caregivers.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to 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 and provides free information and support services. 
 
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 or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. www.lls.org.

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References

1. National Cancer Institute. General Information About Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (PDQ). http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/CML/patient/  Accessed August 2009
2. Jabbour E, Cortes J, Kantarjian H, et al. Molecular Monitoring in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Response to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Prognostic Implications. Cancer. DOI 10.1002/cncr.23427. Published online 17 March 2008.