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Community Corner

'Party in the Park' Raises Money for Leukemia

Julie Matthews is a part of the Man and Woman of the Year fundraising contest to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

It was the perfect combination of fund raising and fun raising.

As a part of the Man and Woman of the Year Campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Fairfax Station resident Julie Matthews invited all her friends and family to come out for a Party in the Park.

The event ran from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the English Hills Park.  There was food, raffle items, a bounce house and face painting for the kids.

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Julie decided to hold this fund raising event at park because of something special that happened there a few years ago. 

“I was on my way to Seattle for a stem cell transplant because my leukemia had relapsed,” Julie said.  “The day we left, my family said we had to leave really early because there was a lot of traffic on the way to Baltimore.  We went out the driveway and everybody had yellow ribbons and balloons on their mailboxes.  We kept driving and everybody was in the park holding signs that said ‘We love you Julie,” and “Thank you Laura.”

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Julie’s sister Laura was a perfect donor match.  Julie had the transplant in October of 2008 and her cancer is now in remission.

The Man and Woman of the year campaign is a ten week fundraising competition.  If Julie raises the most money and is named “Woman of the Year” her picture will appear on a Metro bus, but most importantly, she’ll win very coveted bragging rights and a sense of accomplishment.  Dozens of people came out to Saturday’s Party in the Park, and Julie says that means the world to her.

“It makes me feel very loved and very lucky to have the support I do,” Julie said.

There were a lot of hula hoops at Saturday’s party. Julie said she was trying to learn to properly hula hoop right before she relapsed and she ended up bringing on with her to Seattle for the transplant stay.  She said it really became a symbol for her fight against Leukemia.

If you want to learn more about Julie’s campaign, click here.

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