CLL Heroes are nominated by patients and caregivers for their heroic contributions in the field of chronic lymphocytic leukemia or in the lives of people with CLL.
CLLPAG is proud to honour the first CLL heroes – Dr. John Byrd (a renowned CLL specialist and researcher from Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center), patient advocate Christopher Dwyer, Dr. Brian Koffman (patient and founder of CLL Society) and patient advocate Lisa Minkove (patient who supported other female patients through a Facebook group).
In particular we would like to highlight Christopher Dwyer. The CLLPAG Board knows Christopher Dwyer as a founding member, who then became a Honourary Ex-Officio Board member after 10 years of service to the Board. As a Director on the CLLPAG Board, Chris guided us through new research, helped us set up a website, assisted us with patient drug submissions and generally contributed to growth of CLLPAG. He continues to keep Board members up to date with the latest research about CLL. He was instrumental in launching a patient-focused international 3-day conference in 2007, which brings in leading experts from Canada, the US and other parts of the world. This successful conference continues as CLL Live to this day, with Chris playing an important role in identifying faculty.
Many of you know Christopher Dwyer as an internet friend. Chris is a rock in the CLL community, well respected and valued for his knowledge and dedication to helping others. He founded the CLL Canada website, spending a lot of personal time ensuring the site had up-to-date information and resources to support patients with CLL up until 2016 when health issues interfered with his ability to keep it up. He founded the Face Book page ‘Bad to the Bone’ for other CLL patients. On top of this, Chris is a participant on the American Cancer On-line Resource (ACOR) – CLL list serve and Health Unlocked and willing to wade into controversial discussions amongst patients about care and be the voice of reason, pulling everyone back to what the science tells us to ensure decisions are based on credible sources. Despite his own health challenges of late, Chris continues in his efforts to learn as much as he can about latest research advances and communicate this information back to patients and patient organisations to ensure people have access to credible, validated information.
He is so knowledgeable, he often highlights new healthcare professionals in the field we should watch, as they will be a CLL star, and he is always right. He has been and continues to be an inspiration, for his unselfish, kind heart that only wants ‘more’ for those with CLL – more good information, more support, more treatments and more good years of life – and has generously spent much time ensuring that happens.
One of the nominators, Tess Bernacki read these words at the awards ceremony in December 2018, where Chris’ daughter Tara accepted his award “With his extensive knowledge, optimism & encouragement, Chris has given me the support I need to live my life fully. Christopher deserves to be recognized for his tireless efforts to help so many CLL’ers survive and thrive. I personally owe so much to Chris, a man I have never met personally… he has helped me to better understand the disease and to cope with the fear of the unknown these past 10 years living with CLL.
I am grateful to God for the support and knowledge that Chris has given me on this journey and I know that there are so many others who feel the same.
Thank you Chris for navigating me through and keeping me “on track” so that I can live my life whole-heartedly. Thank you for giving all of us “hope”.”
Check out this link for more information on the CLL Heroes https://www.curetoday.com/cllheroes/heroes/2018
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