Ben Warren of Jim Thorpe is one of the nine candidates competing in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Man & Woman of Year fundraising campaign.

Agreeing to utilize his leadership abilities, Warren will be conducting his own fundraising campaign for LLS for the next 10 weeks. Every dollar he raises counts as one vote. The male and female candidates with the most votes are named the Chapter's Man & Woman of the Year. Their totals are then considered in naming national titles.Warren was asked to become involved with the Man & Woman of the Year campaign by Pamela Formica of Jim Thorpe, who lost her son David to acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was just 15 years old. Warren taught Formica's son as well as coached him in wrestling."David was one of the greatest students I had the privilege of teaching and coaching," said Warren. "I am honored to be raising money on behalf of him to help others who are suffering from blood cancers."Money raised will benefit LLS' mission to cure blood cancers and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families. This year's fundraising is in honor of two patient heroes, the 2012 Boy & Girl of the Year are Braden Sell of Quakertown and Coca Lazaridis of Allentown."We are grateful for the support of Ben Warren as he sets out on an amazing journey to raise money for lifesaving cancer research," said Maida R. Milone, the Executive Director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter.Winners for the Man & Woman of the Year will be announced at the Grand Finale at ArtsQuest Steelstacks on Thursday, June 21st. The night will include cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, live and silent auctions, and dinner and dancing.In 2011, 4 candidates collectively raised over $75,000. Jay Charlie of Whitehall earned the title of Man of the Year and Julie Knight of Allentown claimed the title of Eastern Pennsylvania Woman of the Year.Warren is a teacher at Jim Thorpe Area Junior High School. He currently lives in Jim Thorpe with his wife of three years and their two year old son, Colin. The couple are also expecting their second son in June.For more information about Man & Woman of the Year including this year's candidates, please visit

www.mwoy.org/epa.About The Leukemia & Lymphoma SocietyThe Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. LLS mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and theirfamilies. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada including the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter. To learn more, visit

www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.