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The Leukemia Ironman Fundraiser for Eric (L.I.F.E.) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to cancer survivorship by providing assistance to cancer patients in need, scholarship programs, helping someone check off a bucket list, and donating to promising research laboratories.  We will help draw awareness and contribute towards finding more effective treatments, and one day, a cure.

The history of life involves a young man from Two Rivers, WI named Eric McLean.  On June 21, 2003 he was first diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.  Eric's older brother Mike signed up to compete in the Ironman Wisconsin that fall for him, and his father Brian came up with the monniker Leukemia Ironman Fundraiser for Eric (L.I.F.E.).  In a little over a month, $12,000 was raised and donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for cancer research.  After two intense rounds of chemotherapy, Eric achieved remission for the first time and received a stem cell transplant from Mike.

Then on December 24, 2007, after 4-1/2 years of being cancer free, the news came that Eric McLean's leukemia had relpased.  It is almost unheard of to see an AML patient relapse after a period of time like this, 5 years out is considered to be cured.  So at 23 years old and having just graduated from college, Eric again went through intense chemotherapy treatments and radiation, but this time received a stem cell transplant from his younger sister Lindsey.  L.I.F.E. made a comeback as Mike again ran in the Ironman Wisconsin on September 7, 2008, and we raised nearly $16,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Eric was cancer free again for nearly a year until June 5, 2009, when his AML relapsed again.  Only this time doctors gave him a terminal prognosis, and said it could not be cured.  He immediately began on his journey to complete a bucket list - a list of things he wanted to accomplish before it was too late: skydiving, driving in a Dodge Viper, gambling in Las Vegas, going to the Caribbean with his family, riding in a hot air balloon, and so much more.  It could not have been done without the support and help of many friends, family, and people whom we have never even met.  Eric was advised not to treat it, for fear that it would only make him very sick, with the same fatal outcome.  He chose to fight it.  Just 2 of his 11 doctors agreed to it.  They tried a regimen of Decitabine and Mylotarg that had never really been attempted before on a patient as young as Eric.  It worked, miraculously, and Eric again achieved remission status.

In 2010, L.I.F.E. became it's own 501(c)(3) non-profit entity so that it could begin helping patients directly.  Team L.I.F.E. was founded in which consists of an entire team of people and athletes dedicated to racing and fundraising for the cause each year.  After a large fundraising effort, L.I.F.E. and Mike managed a 3rd place finish in the Janus Charity Challenge at the Ironman Wisconsin 2010.

Then on January 12, 2011 Eric's bone marrow biopsy returned positive.  He is now facing AML for the 4th time and needs your support more than ever.  But there are many other patients out there also suffering.  Anything we can do to help, please let us know.

Thank you for all of your support.

-The McLean Family