{image_1}Minneapolis, MN (June 19, 2018) – Everyone loves a three-peat, especially when the winning combination helps provide care and support to people fighting cancer. For the third consecutive year, Subaru of America, Inc. and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) will spread love, hope and warmth to cancer patients and their families in communities across the country. Over the past two years, Subaru Loves to Care, the health-focused initiative of the Subaru Love Promise philanthropic platform, has allowed LLS and Subaru to deliver blankets, messages of hope and arts and crafts kits to 70,000 patients in more than 400 hospitals through 475 Subaru retailers. With the goal of donating more simple comforts to more patients year after year, Subaru and LLS look to achieve a new record during 2018 Subaru Loves to Care month, kicking off in June.

{image_2}“Subaru Loves to Care is all about improving the health of our local communities and we are proud to once again work alongside our valued partner, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, to continue supporting patients and their families battling cancer,” said Alan Bethke, senior vice president of marketing at Subaru of America. “We hope that through this program, our gestures of hope will comfort and warm those who need it most.”

Where Love Meets Hope

Throughout June, Subaru and LLS will bring the Subaru Loves to Care initiative to life at 498 Subaru retailers across the country. Visitors to Subaru retailers will be given a chance to write personalized messages of hope to cancer patients in their local communities, and anyone can send an online message of support at www.lls.org/subaru. Those who write a message of hope at a Subaru retailer will also receive a reusable tote bag to help spread awareness of LLS and the automaker’s goal to provide hope and care, one gesture at a time.

{image_3}At the end of June, Subaru retailers will partner with local LLS chapters nationwide to deliver nearly 40,000 blankets and 7,700 arts & crafts kits, along with messages of hope written by Subaru customers, to those fighting cancer in hospitals and treatment centers across the country. Minnesota Oncology is fortunate to be one of the recipients of the Subaru Loves to Care blanket donation. On June 19, representatives from Morrie's Minnetonka Subaru and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Minnesota Chapter, visited Minnesota Oncology's Plymouth Clinic to deliver blankets for patients, including survivor and Minnesota Oncology patient Fred Cox.

Cox is a local legend as the Minnesota Vikings’ all-time leading scorer. Retired from football since 1977, he has always stayed active and busy as a golfer, hunter, pilot, chiropractor, huisband, father, grandfather, and inventor of the Nerf football.

{image_4}“Good fortune seems to play into everything in my life to the point where when I was a young man, my dad said about me, “You’re so lucky you’d fall into an outhouse and come out with a new suit,” Cox has said.

While it may not seem fortunate to be diagnosed with leukemia, Cox considers himself quite lucky. He was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) in 1995. His cancer was discovered in bloodwork when he was getting a new battery put in his pacemaker.

Cox feels lucky despite his diagnosis and other health issues because none of the males in his family have lived to be older than 65. He will be 80 in December. “It’s not that I haven’t had problems,” he says. “But there has always been treatment available to solve them.”

Cox receives treatment from Dr. Paul Zander, oncology nurse Jane Marostica, and the care team at Minnesota Oncology’s Plymouth Clinic and manages his CML with daily medication. “He’s doing so well,” says Cox’s wife. “We’re very fortunate in that respect.”

{image_5}According to LLS President and CEO Dr. Louis J. DeGennaro, “The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has helped millions impacted by cancer throughout our almost 70-year history, funding breakthrough research to advance lifesaving treatments and cures, and providing support and advocacy for patients. But the fight against blood cancers cannot be won without supporters such as Subaru and their customers. Every voice, every action, every contribution is needed and valued. We are committed to working tirelessly until we find a cure.”

Visit Morrie’s Minnetonka Subaru to sign a hope card, or visit www.lls.org/subaru to write an online message of support and learn more about LLS's mission and impact, and how to help Subaru and LLS lead the way to cancer cures. 

For more information about Subaru Loves to Care, please visit www.subaru.com/loves-to-care.

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA has donated more than $120 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged more than 40,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do.

For additional information visit media.subaru.com. 

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. The Minnesota Chapter serves patients in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST.

For additional information visit lls.org/lls-newsnetwork.

About Minnesota Oncology

Minnesota Oncology includes specialists in medical oncology, radiation oncology, hematology, gynecologic oncology, thoracic and plastic surgery – as well as on-site laboratory services and access to its specialty oncology care pharmacy. With over 100 providers – physicians, physician assistants and certified nurse practitioners – now practicing in 12 clinic locations across the greater Twin Cities metro area, Minnesota Oncology is the largest independent oncology practice in the state of Minnesota. https://mnoncology.com/