NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Titans cheerleader Chasity Adkisson has sincere motivation to help leukemia and lymphoma patients through her entry in the LLS Man & Woman of the Year Campaign that is off to a strong start.
The LLS Man & Woman of the Year Campaign is a 10-week challenge to raise the most money to help fund research to cure blood cancers, and Chasity has started strongly with no signs of slowing until June 19 when the 2014 challenge is scheduled to end. She has set a goal of raising $70,000 during the 10-week window.
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"We are so excited about all the help we've had and people who have reached out to support my campaign and support Leukemia & Lymphoma Society," Chasity said.
Chasity's connection to blood-based cancer is personal. Her cousin Chris Oden, a mother of two, lost her battle with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2007 at age 34 after battling the disease for a year and a half. She is also motivated by fellow cheerleader Robin Roach Towe, who cheered for the Nashville Kats and mentored others before passing away from AML at age 33 more than 10 years ago.
"I'm just motivated by knowing that I'm helping out in every way I can," Chasity said. "I'm motivated by my cousin who fought and battled leukemia for over a year and a half and I'm motivated by everyone reaching out to help and the stories I hear. I figure there's part of me that says this is the least I could do to help in any way that I can."
Chasity is sharing stories that others send to her on **the "Team Believe with FlipNRobin" Facebook page**, and she is receiving help from 2012 LLS Man of the Year Rick Olszewski and Titans cornerback Coty Sensabaugh, who was 2013 Man of the Year First Runner-up.
Sensabaugh campaigned a year ago to honor the memory of his late brother Jamaar, who passed away at age 16 one week after he was diagnosed with leukemia. Coty was 11 at the time, and his memories of Jamaar motivated him to help last year and this year. He's hosting the second annual "Dine for a Cure" event at Maggiano's Little Italy on Wednesday, May 14. The event will include a three-course meal, a Q&A with Titans players and a fashion show featuring Titans cheerleaders. Stacie Kinder, Titans director of cheerleading, and Jonathan Hutton from 104.5-FM The Zone's Midday 180 will emcee the dinner (**click here for ticket information**).
Olszewski hosted a Kentucky Derby-themed event last weekend and is set to host "Choose to Cure Cancer" that features shoes from Jimmy Choo of the Mall at Green Hills on May 22. Jimmy Choo is donating 10 percent of sales to the LLS Man & Woman of the Year candidate of the patron's choice.
Chasity said her 6-year-old Kaidance asked if she could help the campaign and will be operating a lemonade stand in their neighborhood on May 16 to do so. Additionally, a one-hour Tae Bo fitness class, with proceeds from participant fees going to the campaign, is scheduled for May 30. Visit http://www.mwoy.org/pages/tn/nash14/cadkisson for more information on Chasity's campaign or to donate to the effort.
