Each year, all across the country, dedicated candidates engage in an exciting competition to earn The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society‘s (LLS) “Man and Woman of the Year” titles. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society funds leading-edge research for every type of blood cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other rare types of blood cancers.
Local Phoenix resident, Michelle Micalizzi, has accepted the nomination for Woman of the Year. She has organized Team Micalizzi to help create and execute a series of fundraising activities to continue the LLS mission as part of her campaign. Micalizzi has branded her effort “Relentless for a Cure”. LLS is hosting a virtual kickoff event on March 11th. The campaign includes a series of fund-raising events to participate in including a motorcycle poker run, bowling, Facebook Live interviews and an art auction, cumulating in a virtual Grand Finale gala hosted by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Arizona Chapter on May 22nd. Online donations will be collected from March 11 – May 22 and during the Gala event.
The first event — The Relentless for a Cure Poker Run — is scheduled from April 16-25. The motorcycle poker run includes five Phoenix-area routes to choose from including: East Valley, Cave Creek/Bartlett Lake, Cave Creek/Jake’s Corner, Scottsdale and West Valley. This event is designed to support local bars and restaurants during these tough COVID times. Stops include favorite biker hangouts such as Hideaway Bar & Grill, Road House and Buddy Stubbs Harley Davidson.
This is a great opportunity to select a ride to complete within nine days in socially responsible smaller groups, using contactless poker-card drawing technology. Poker Run opening and closing events will be managed virtually on Zoom and Facebook Live. Replays will be available via YouTube (youtube.relentlesstalkradio.com) and IGTV (@Micalizzirides) Musical entertainment will be included during both online events.
Micalizzi partnered with Tom Amen, founder of Mischief Maker (amischiefmaker.com), an app that allows touchless card selection, coordination of routes and stopping points for easy on-the-road tracking. Along the routes there will be opportunities to participate in a prize raffle. As part of the festivities, riders are encouraged to wear their “best red” outfits in support of the LLS blood cancer mission and post pictures on social media at each stop along the route.
Relentless for a Cure Bowl-A-Mania is scheduled for May 15th. Additional information about that event can be found on RelentlessForACure.com.
Relentless Talk Radio’s special series Relentless Biker: Celebrating Motorcycle Culture (relentlesstalkradio.com) will feature interviews that focus on fellow bikers discussing their love for motorcycling and why they are supporting the Ride. Interviews can be viewed live on Facebook (facebook.com/RelentlessTalkRadio) 10-11 a.m. on the 4th Friday of the month. Replays will be available via YouTube (youtube.relentlesstalkradio.com).
The LLS Man & Woman of The Year celebration Grand Finale gala will be held virtually May 22, at 5:30 p.m. The evening’s activities include the announcement of the Man & Woman of the Year winners, an auction including artwork created by candidate Micalizzi and online retail store to purchase event memorabilia inspired by Micalizzi’s paintings.
All event links can be accessed from RelentlessForACure.com.
