NCMLS Turns 10!
It’s hard to believe that the journey that has become the National CML Society began 10 years ago! On August 3, 2007, awareness became action with the formation of Carolyn’s Hope which became the NCMLS in late 2009. These years have been filled with some of the highest highs and the deepest lows. We’ve had the privilege of walking with hundreds of families as they’ve learned of the diagnosis and struggled through the first days of coming to terms with all that it brings.
The goal of the organization has been and always will be the hope of ensuring that anyone with CML has the information and resources they need to move beyond the diagnosis and gain a better understanding of what living with CML really means. Through the organization’s work, we’ve seen ground-based support groups grow and flourish, patients and CML physicians interact as never before, and newly diagnosed patients able to connect with others from the day they’re diagnosed, and more. While these things may seem “normal” today, they were practically non-existent 10 years ago. The NCMLS set in motion new ideas to bridge the gap between “we the patients” and the physicians, clinics, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies who help provide our treatment. Our hope is that over the next 10 years we will continue to see amazing progress and an ever narrowing gap between a CML diagnosis and cure!
We are grateful for your support and encouragement and look forward to continuing to serve the community in new and progressive ways!
We hope you’ll enjoy a look back into the early days of the NCMLS and join us as we celebrate just how far we’ve come! For a brief history of the NCMLS, click here.
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- The very first “event” for the organization was a blood and marrow drive at Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation in Athens, Alabama. (September 2007)
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- Founder, Greg Stephens, kicks off the first event, a blood and marrow drive. That day, hundreds of employees gained new insights in the importance of being blood and marrow donors!
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- The organization’s booth at its first Health and Wellness Expo.
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- John Stephens and Todd Stephens man the booth at the organization’s first Health and Wellness Expo.
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- Greg Stephens and Beth Hodges take the CML Cause to the Livestrong Summit.
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- The lantern and our logo. Carolyn’s Hope became the NCMLS in December of 2009 and publicly announced the change in January 2010.
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- CMLer, Lee Spiva (L) shares his CML story and the NCMLS message.
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- NCMLS volunteers prepare for the first CML patient event in the US.
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- NCMLS Medical Advisor, Dr. Michael Mauro, delivers the keynote address at the first NCMLS patient program, Phoenix, AZ.
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- Dr. Michael Mauro at the first NCMLS patient program.
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- Dr. Michael Mauro and Greg Stephens in Phoenix, AZ for the first patient program/event held in the United States for CML.
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- NCMLS Founder, Greg Stephens, facilitates a CML Focus Group in Phoenix, AZ.
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- NCMLS Advocates attending the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in Orlando, FL.
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- Greg Stephens and Beth Hodges with the infamous Jerry Mayfield.
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- Joining forces with Nancy Davenport Ennis (L) from the Patient Advocate Foundation, and Carson Jacobi (R) LLS in NY to speak with the nation’s largest insurance providers on coverage issues faced by CML patients in the U.S.
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- NCMLS in action!
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- NCMLS Advocate, Julie Boonstra, about to speak with House of Representatives Member, John Conyers, Jr., of Michigan.
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- NCMLS Advocate, Mary Jane Bertram, about to speak with House of Representatives Member, Maurice Hinchey, Jr., of New York.
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- NCMLS advocate, Shelly Jackson, and Greg Stephens prepare to visit Representative, Brian Higgins of NY.
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- NCMLS Advocate, Mary Jane Bertram, speaks before the Rare Disease Caucus at the House of Representatives Building, Washington, D.C.
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- NCMLS Advocate, Julie Boonstra, speaks before the Rare Disease Caucus in Washington, D.C.
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- NCMLS Founder, Mary Jane Bertram, speaks before the Rare Disease Caucus at the House of Representatives Building, Washington, D.C.
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- NCMLS Advocates (L-R), in Washington, D.C., Julie Boonstra (MI), Mary Jane Bertram (NY), and Tyson Dennison (NE)
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- CML Connection Group meeting.
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- First NYC CML Connection meeting.
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- An early meeting of the Chicago CML Connection group. Today this group has more than 30 active participants!
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- An early meeting of the Phoenix CML Connection group
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- NCMLS Medical Advisor, Dr. Michael Mauro (L) at an early CML Connection meeting in Portland, OR.
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- NCMLS CML Connection Facilitator, Lynne Dagata (standing, left) with her Connecticut/Western NY group.
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- CML Connection Facilitator, Erin Havel (3rd from L) with her Seattle group.
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- CML Connection Group meeting.
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- NCMLS Medical Advisor, Dr. Michael Mauro, speaks at a NYC CML Connection group meeting.
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- Mary Jane Bertram (L) and Greg Stephens (R) meet with Dr. Meir Wetzler at the Roswell Park Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY.
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- CML Connection Facilitators, Lisa Lewandowski and Jen Schwarz (far right) host the Living Well with CML program in Chicago.
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- CML Connection Facilitator, Jen Schwarz and husband, Randy with fellow CMLer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
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- CML Connection Facilitators Tamara Young and Marti Davis (flanking KAJ) host the Living Well with CML program in California.
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- NCMLS CML Connection Faciliator, Jamie Pires, along with the local Tampa group pause for a photo with fellow CMLer, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Tampa, FL.
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- NCMLS advocates taking the CML message to young adults at the OMG (Stupid Cancer) Conference. (L – R) Greg Stephens, Erin Havel, and Stephanie Lewis.
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- NCMLS advocates at the OMG (Stupid Cancer) Conference.
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- Barb Stanley (rt) with fellow CML Connection group member, Sandy Perlman, holds the Proclamation recognizing September 22 as CML Awareness Day in the State of Arizona.
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- NCMLS advocates, Pat Elliott and Greg Stephens with Mina Daban, far right, from LMC France.
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- NCMLS advocates, Jamie Toftum, Shelly Anderson, and Cody Anderson meet with their State Representative following testimony on the need for drug parity legislation in Utah.
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- NCMLS Founder, Greg Stephens, with Dr. Peter Nowell who discovered the Philadelphia Chromosome.
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- NCMLS Founder, Greg Stephens, with Alice Hungerford (wife of David Hungerford who confirmed Dr. Nowell’s findings) shown with the actual microscope used in the discovery of the Philadelphia Chromosome.
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- NCMLS founder, Greg Stephens spends time with Dr. Janet Rowley in her lab. Chicago.
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- NCMLS founder, Greg Stephens spends time with Dr. Janet Rowley in her lab. Chicago.
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- CML Advocate, Lynda Cook-Gannon, speaks at the first CML Connection Facilitator Training in New Orleans, LA.
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- NCMLS CML Awareness Ribbon travels the country during the Stupid Cancer Road Trip.
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- NCMLS advocates preparing for a CML Awareness Day (World CML Day) event on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol,, Washington, D.C.
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- NCMLS Volunteers assembling luminarias for a CML Awareness event on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.
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- NCMLS Volunteers assembling luminarias for a CML Awareness event on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.
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- NCMLS Volunteers assembling luminarias for a CML Awareness event on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.
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- The U.S. Capitol grounds are almost ready for CML Awareness.
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- CML Awareness Day (World CML Day) event at the U.S. Capitol.
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- NCMLS Advocate, Dave Fortier and NCMLS Medical Advisor, Dr. Michael Mauro and Greg Stephens at pre-NYC Marathon Kick-Off
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- NCMLS Medical Advisor, Dr. Michael Mauro running for Team922 in the NYC Marathon.
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- Team 922 – November 2013
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- Team 922 with their 2013 NYC Marathon Medals
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- Team922 readies for the NYC Marathon.
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- Team922. Dr Michael Mauro with the team on the eve of the NYC Marathon.
