About Blood Cancer United’s
Visionaries of the Year

We’re on a mission to fund a research grant in memory of our dear friend and teammate, Patty Kelly.

Team Granting Life is competing in Visionaries of the Year, Blood Cancer United's premier annual fundraising campaign.

The campaign brings community leaders together to advance blood cancer research, patient support, and advocacy.

How It Works

Visionaries of the Year is a 10-week initiative where teams across the community rally support to fund life-saving breakthroughs. From March 4 through May 16, 2026, teams compete to raise funds that directly impact patients and families affected by blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.

This isn't just a fundraiser—it's a movement to create tangible progress in the fight against blood cancer.

This campaign is driven by hope—hope found in the faces of survivors like Jonathan and Greta. Jonathan is a compassionate, joyful, and wonderfully silly 7-year-old who was diagnosed with blood cancer at age six. Since beginning treatment in July 2024, this very social boy has faced the challenges of being severely immunocompromised, but he's remained resilient, positive, and rarely complains. When he's not in treatment, you'll find him riding his dirt bike, downhill skiing, or building with Legos.

Greta's journey began as a college athlete when she was diagnosed with lymphoma in February 2014. After relapsing with a secondary blood cancer seven months later, she fought her way back to health. Today, Greta is a thriving mom of two, wife, and ICU registered nurse at Mayo Clinic Health System who believes deeply that "through medical breakthroughs, we will be able to save countless lives." Jonathan and Greta remind us why this work matters—and why every dollar raised brings us closer to a future where no family faces blood cancer alone.

Our Honored Heroes:
Jonathan & Greta

Honored hero, Jonathon—Age 7
B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Honored hero, Greta
Stage IIA Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Every dollar raised through Team Granting Life supports:

Research & Innovation
Funding the next generation of treatments and therapies that give patients more options and better outcomes.

Patient Support
Providing resources, education, and assistance to patients and families navigating blood cancer diagnoses.

Advocacy
Advancing policies that improve access to care and accelerate the path from research to treatment.

Where Your Donation Goes

Our Campaign Goal

Team Granting Life is raising $150,000 to fund the Patty Kelly Research Grant—a research grant named in honor of someone who dedicated her life to fighting for others. This grant will support groundbreaking research that could be the key to someone's tomorrow.

Real Impact:
Research that Saves Lives

Blood Cancer United and its partners have a proven track record of funding research that changes lives. One powerful example: Rituxan (rituximab)—a revolutionary treatment for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma—was influenced by foundational research and patient access support funded by organizations like Blood Cancer United.

This treatment has created precious time for countless patients, including people close to our team members.

Get Involved

  • Donate: Every contribution, large or small, makes a difference

  • Attend Our Events: Join us for fundraising events throughout the campaign

  • Spread the Word: Share our mission with your network

  • Corporate Sponsorship: Partner with us to amplify your impact