Pick A Winner: The Perfect Tournament Bracket

Who’s in? Who got left out? The excitement of March Madness is here! At this point in the NCAA tournament, we all have perfect brackets—but that will likely change on day one. At least for the majority of us: The odds of picking a perfect bracket are 1 in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (or 1 in 9.2 quintillion). Wrap your mind around those odds!

Our friends at Alta Partners host an annual March Madness Bracket Challenge in which they designate funds for a charity. At this time last year, I was working to lead a team for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Man & Woman of the Year Campaign to raise money for cancer research. Alta Partners donated their proceeds to that campaign, which made a huge impact on my team’s campaign—and a life-changing effect on those who are bravely fighting blood cancers.

This year, Alta Partners is at it again: The Malachi House is the charitable recipient of this year’s bracket challenge. If you’re not familiar, Malachi House is a Cleveland-based ministry that serves people who are terminally ill—all genders, races, religions and national origins, and without cost to the resident or family. This Home ministers to individuals who need an available caregiver, who have limited or no financial resources and need special home care in the final stages of their life. Malachi House is a very special place, and one that our Shamrock family has supported for many years.

So, if you’re looking to pick the perfect bracket, you can’t go wrong by jumping in on the Alta Partners challenge, because the residents at Malachi House win, no matter which teams end up in the finals.

ENTRIES ARE DUE BY MARCH 21st. To sign up ($25 entry fee) and fill out your bracket, follow the link below:
http://www.altapartnersllc.com/tt/2018tourney/default.html

Good luck!
Tim Connor

LLS Cleveland Campaign Earns $584,000

What an amazing fundraising effort: 8 candidates. 10 weeks. $584,000 earned for LLS.

This past weekend at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) 2017 Man and Woman of the Year campaign wrapped up at the annual Gala event.

Supported by my incredible team, we raised $81,477 for LLS, and in doing so, I was humbled and proud to receive Cleveland’s 2017 Man of the Year title—a distinction that I share with all of those who worked during the past 10 weeks of the competition to raise funds to find a cure for blood cancers.

I was blown away by the generosity of the NE Ohio community and beyond: People gathered in Charlotte at a neighborhood BBQ, solicited and donated auction items, and participated online to support my campaign. On behalf of leukemia survivors like my sister-in-law Katie, as well as those who are battling the disease today, thank you!

I’m pleased to have served as a voice for those whose lives have been affected by cancer—and I’ll continue to support LLS in working to make someday, today.     

Tim Connor

Take Control. Beat Cancer.

It feels good to be in control—or at least, to have a handle on things within your reach. But that kind of security isn’t always in the cards. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer, then you get it: A cancer diagnosis is a line-drive foul ball that you didn’t see coming.   

Three years ago, my sister-in-law, Katie, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at age 32. It was news that sent my family reeling—and the reason I accepted the nomination to fight for those battling blood cancers as part of THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY'S (LLS) 2017 Man & Woman of the Year Campaign.

When she was diagnosed, Katie was the picture of health. She is also one of the most positive people I know, which played in her favor. Katie fought a long, hard battle and won. During her chemotherapy treatments, she took drugs that threw her body into a nauseating faux menopause to protect her eggs. One year later, she got pregnant.  Today, with 14-month-old Luke running circles around her, Katie is battling bladder cancer. So, her fight continues—and she faces it every day with that same positive mindset and amazing resolve.

I’m grateful for the treatments and therapies that have written a promising next chapter for Katie.  But there is so much more to be done. With Katie as my inspiration, I’m working to help raise funds for LLS for research and treatments. My team, KATIE’S BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS TOUR, is competing against other teams in NE Ohio in a 10-week fundraising campaign.  

PLEASE JOIN US in giving cancer patients a fighting chance. EVERY DONATION helps! I’m asking for only two things:

• 1.      Click on this link to access our team page and make your tax-deductible donation online.
• 2.     Forward this blog to your friends and family

On behalf of Katie, the Connor family, and others who are battling to gain their footing and fight back—thank you.

Tim Connor