Cancer survivor helps other patients in national fundraising campaign

Cancer survivor helps other patients in national fundraising campaign

(Courtesy of Johnny Maack)


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DRAPER — When Johnny Maack left his doctor’s office at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, having made it two years cancer free, he was overcome with gratitude. But as he walked the halls, passing patients still battling the disease, he was reminded just what it felt like to be in their shoes, and he wanted so badly to help.

It was late 2012 when Maack was diagnosed with stage 3 mantle cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after discovering a lump under his left armpit.

A father of two girls, Maack wanted to do everything he could to be there for them, and his wife of 25 years.

For the next five months, he underwent aggressive inpatient chemotherapy followed by an autologous stem cell transplant. While in treatment, Maack walked hundreds of miles in the hallways of the hospital and rode on his stationary bike in an effort to both beat cancer and train for a 100-mile race he would complete just one year later.

While the cancer survivor attributes much of his positive prognosis to maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout his treatment, he is quick to thank the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Huntsman Cancer Institute for providing him with the means to fight the disease — including continued medical research to find a cure for blood cancers.

It is this continued medical research that Maack is hoping to help fund with his most recent efforts.

Braelyn Oliver was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was 3. Johnny Maack's fundraising efforts are in honor of her.
 (Photo: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)
Braelyn Oliver was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was 3. Johnny Maack's fundraising efforts are in honor of her. (Photo: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)

On March 3, Maack started a 10-week campaign to help raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. His efforts will be in honor of LLS’s “Girl of the Year,” a 4-year-old named Braelyn, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at just 3 years of age.

The fundraiser goes along with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual “Man and Woman of the Year” campaign, where cancer survivors from all over the country compete to earn the title of Man or Woman of the Year, but more importantly, to raise money for blood cancer research.

“I am truly honored to join this year’s efforts as one of the Man of the Year candidates,” Maack said. “What a privilege it is to help others by raising money that will directly benefit cancer patients and their families.”

In addition to collecting funds on his LLS site, Maack will be heading up many fundraising events* in the community.

Wasatch Running Center will be hosting a “Johnny Runner Day” on April 25, with a percentage of all sales at both its Sandy and Centerville locations being donated to his campaign. The stores will also be running a cash register campaign for the entire 10 weeks.

In addition, Maac will be directing a 5K and 10K trail race on May 2 in Corner Canyon in Draper, and there will be a motorcycle rally and benefit concert by the American Hitmen, sometime in May.

“My team’s goal is to raise $75,000 during our campaign,” he said. “And with 78 cents on the dollar going to the cause, you know where your money is going.”

According to the LLS website, “Every dollar counts as one vote and the titles are awarded to the man and woman with the most votes at the end of 10 weeks. … To date, these dedicated leaders have helped LLS invest more than $1 billion in research to advance breakthrough therapies that are saving lives today and helping us all achieve the LLS goal of a world without blood cancers.”

“I just want to do whatever I can to help find a cure for blood cancers so others will not have to hear the words ‘you have cancer,’ ” Maack said. “When cancer loses, everyone wins.”

Maack’s campaign runs from March 3 to May 16. For more information, or to donate, go to mwoy.org/pages/ut/slc15/jmaack.


*KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does KSL.com assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account you should consult your own advisors and proceed at your own risk.
About the Author: Arianne Brown

Arianne is a mother to six young children. Her down time is spent running the mountain trails of the Wasatch Mountains and beyond. Contact her at ariannebrown1@gmail.com, follow her on Twitter @arimom6 or search her Facebook page, "A Mother's Write."

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