The Power of a Friend

The stage was set and the camera was rolling at Studio 120 for Matt Clark, a banker with US Bank, Twin Cities. Clark is creating a fundraising video for Leukemia  patients. Clark became a supporter for people diagnosed with Leukemia when three years ago he learned his friend and classmate, Mark Thurbush, was diagnosed with lymphoma, a blood cancer. The first time Clark got word about his friend, he was sitting in class at Carlson School of Management where he was attending to earn his MBA. His reflection of this day still brings tears to his eyes.   “We’re all sitting there waiting for class to start complaining about homework and kids and how to find balance and Mark walks in and says, ‘I have cancer.” In the years that followed, Clark not only stood by his friend while he battled his disease, together the two raised $30,000 to support research and awareness of Leukemia  and lymphoma – a feat that helped earned Clark a coveted spot in The Leukemia  & Lymphoma Society’s 2013 Man/Woman of the Year competition. Man & Woman of the Year is a fun and unique ten-week fundraising competition to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Candidates are nominated to use their leadership skills to conduct individual fundraising campaigns. Every dollar raised counts as one vote. The candidates with the most votes at the end of the 10 weeks are named the Man & Woman of the Year. To hear more about Matt and Mark’s story please visit https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/116338672586218155057/116338672586218155057/posts/hR2k6zFvGVg...