The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. More than 75% of their expenditures is directed to research and patient services. The Society has dedicated itself to being on the top-rated voluntary health agencies in terms of dollars that directly fund their mission.

The Society's roots stretch back to 1949, when the de Villiers family experienced the devastation of leukema with the death of their 16 year old son, Robert Roesler de Villiers. Family members and friends declared war on the disease by creatingThe Robert Roesler de Villiers Foundation, funding the research to find a cure. The foundation later became The Leukema & Lymphoma Society.

My personal mission is to raise at least 3,800 dollars for the society and finish the Nike 26.2 Marathon in San Francisco on October 24, 2004.