"Thanks in part to the support of LLS advocates, the Geraldine Ferraro Blood Cancer Education Program has been retained in the Senate's FY 2011 budget!
The program has allowed The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and other patient organizations to support patients in their treatment and care -- especially the underserved -- and had been cut from the White House's budget proposal when it was sent to Congress at the beginning of the year. Fortunately, the program was spared when the Senate appropriators retained the program's funding. Without this assistance, LLS and other patient groups would have needed to cut assistance programs to the most vulnerable blood cancer patients.
Thank you to all of the advocates who took the time to write, call and visit their senators to express support of this important program; proof positive that your efforts can make a difference! LLS will continue to inform volunteers of the funding prospects of programs and institutions affecting blood cancer patients and researchers as the appropriations process continues."