Chorus Against Cancer, a local fundraising team, held their kickoff fundraiser event April 5 at Limerick Fire Company. Proceeds raised from the night will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Attendees to the event enjoyed dinner and live music, as well as a silent auction. Sunshine Symphony, a Philadelphia area band, performed popular hits for the crowd to dance to and enjoy throughout the evening. Items up for bid in the auction included gift cards to Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Chestnut Hill shopping gift cards, tickets to Philadelphia sporting events and much more. All items in the auction were donated for the event.
The Chorus Against Cancer team was formed when Brian Miller, the president of Chorus Photography in Phoenixville, was nominated by the LLS to take part in their annual ‘Man and Woman of the Year’ fundraiser event. Nominees have 10 weeks, from April 1 through June 12, to raise money for the LLS. Whoever raises the most funds, wins the title.
Instead of having the focus only on him, Miller decided to make it a team effort and formed Chorus Against Cancer along with his wife Michele, as well as other members. The team aims to raise $50,000 for the LLS.
Miller had previously worked with the LLS, and had been nominated last year but had to decline due to his mother-in-law’s battle with cancer, which is now in remission.
‘I think a lot of people don’t necessarily realize that so many people are touched by Leukemia and blood cancer,’ Miller said. ‘In just the short time that we’ve launched Chorus Against Cancer it’s absolutely amazed me how many people I’ve talked to that I don’t know that have said [someone they know] was just diagnosed.
‘We couldn’t do it last year,’ he added. ‘They re-nominated us again. After what we went through last year with her, how could you say no?’
Miller said his ultimate goal is to make Chorus Against Cancer a yearly fundraising drive that would benefit different charities within the community.
‘Philanthropy has always been a really large part of what we do,’ Miller remarked. ‘We work with a lot of non-profits, so for us it’s been a natural extension of our company. I think allowed us to take it to a completely different level.’
Miller continued, ‘For me, it’s not what I get out of it, it’s what we’re giving back. At the end of the day, all I am is a funnel for money. If we’re able to raise $5, $10, it helps. Whether it’s (for) somebody’s parking (or) giving them the right tools to make informed decisions about their cancer treatment. Unfortunately, cancer isn’t going away anytime soon. So, we can battle it and we can throw as much money as we can towards it to at least help it, especially with LLS and blood cancers.’
LLS campaign manager Rick Moll, who was also in attendance, was pleased with the Millers’ efforts in the fund drive.
‘I think what Brian and Michele are doing in conjunction with Chorus Against Cancer is bringing so much awareness and really much needed funds towards the fight against blood cancers. We are a research-based organization, so all of our funds go towards research and patient services,’ Moll said.
Donations can be made at Chorus Against Cancer’s Facebook page and LLS.org.
