February 2013 Archive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lee Biosolutions helps make cancer patient’s wish come true

St. Louis, MO—Lee Biosolutions is in the business of fighting cancer. The Brentwood-based company produces finished proteins, enzymes, biologicals, immuno-reagents and antibodies for life science research and clinical diagnostic testing. So when company president Burton Lee heard of cancer patient Michelle W.’s wish, helping grant it just made sense.

“Everything we do here at Lee Biosolutions is about cancer,” Lee said. “Fighting it, finding ways to detect it earlier, lessening its impact on human lives… As an extension of that, I’ve been looking for ways to reach out to cancer victims and their families—and to other organizations involved in the fight.”

Michelle is one person he’s reached out to and helped. The 37-year-old mother of two was recently diagnosed with brain cancer. Her prognosis is that she could survive six months or less. Her wish, made through the not-for-profit foundation 3 Little Birds 4 Life, was to take her family to Disney World. Michelle wants “to make amazing memories” for her husband Dan and their children, six-year-old Liliana and four-year-old Milo. Through its community outreach program, Lee Biosolutions is making Michelle’s wish come true, picking up the tab for the entire $8,000 trip.

Burton first learned of 3 Little Birds 4 Life from his Senior Protein Chemist, Dr. Melanie McGill. “Melanie designs jewelry and sells it at the boutique Schön, in Richmond Heights. Once a month, Schön sponsors a different not-for-profit organization, and part of the sales go to that organization. Melanie met Ashley Swip, founder of 3 Little Birds 4 Life, at a Schön event.”

Swip founded the Collinsville, Illinois-based organization shortly after her own brother died of cancer at the age of 28. In trying to find a way to make her brother’s last days more memorable, Swip discovered that while there are organizations focused on helping children and seniors with terminal cancer, there was nothing specifically for young adults. She created 3 Little Birds 4 Life to help cancer patients between the ages of 18 and 40.

Sending Michelle and her family to Disney World isn’t the only wish Lee Biosolutions has helped grant. Lee and his employees also volunteered to build a deck for one of 3 Little Birds 4 Life’s wish recipients.

“We’re constantly working to find new ways to fight cancer,” Lee said. “And we’re good at it. We’ve developed a proprietary process to purify and test for novel cancer biomarkers.  But we always want to be doing more. Helping improve the lives of cancer patients, even in small ways, is one way we can.”

About Lee BioSolutions, Inc.

Lee BioSolutions is an international producer and supplier of high purity cardiac and tumor markers. Headquartered in St. Louis and founded in 2002, the healthcare biotechnology firm serves academic and scientific researchers as well as IVD manufacturers worldwide. Lee BioSolutions produces and processes raw biomaterials used in drug discovery and development, laboratory equipment calibration, clinical diagnosis and product testing. The company is ISO 9001:2008 certified, FDA registered and meets USDA guidelines.

www.leebio.com

Childrens Tumor Foundation

Imagine your child being diagnosed with a genetic disease that causes tumors to grow anywhere in the body called neurofibroatosis (NF) . Now imagine that you find out that he as NF2 and his tumors are in his brain and spinal column and he will require surgery after surgery. Imagine your child is only 10 years old when you find out. Its way too much for one family to go through and there are so many lives that are affected. There is an organization called Childrens Tumor Foundation that helps families families try and cope by providing support and resources . Lee Biosolutions, Inc became involved with CTF after hearing about a story of a boy named Jack who found out when he was 10 years old of this devastating disease.We will continue to support CTF and everything it has done to help these families cope through difficult times. Lee Biosolutions was a major sponsor for this Great fundraiser with Paper dolls Boutique this year. We need your continued support.

3 Little Birds 4 Life

Lee Biosolutions supports this organization because they are an incredible resource for young adult cancer patients between 18-40 years of age. Their mission is simple. It is to enhance the lives of young adult cancer patients one wish at a time. They help fill that void for the young adult who is now faced with many peaks and valleys while they travel the cancer journey by providing them the support and resources to help them through.

We have granted a with for a 37-year-old mother of two was recently diagnosed with brain cancer. Her prognosis is that she could survive six months or less. Her wish, made through the not-for-profit foundation 3 Little Birds 4 Life, was to take her family to Disney World. Michelle wants “to make amazing memories” for her husband Dan and their children, six-year-old Liliana and four-year-old Milo. Through its community outreach program, Lee Biosolutions is making Michelle’s wish come true, picking up the tab for the entire trip.

We also volunteer and in fact Lee Biosolutions employees volunteered to help build a deck for a young 24 year old cancer patient Annie, who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia.

Churchill Center and School for Learning Disabilities

Churchill Center and School is a recognized leader in the field of learning disabilities. Educators work with bright students who struggle with reading and spelling due to learning disabilities such as dyslexia, ADD, ADHD or a combination. The organization's highly skilled and talented teachers and staff create customized programs specific to each child's needs. In addition to demystifying learn disabilities, Churchill helps students succeed academically and transition into conventional educational settings. Despite above-average intelligence, a nurturing family, proper motivation, and normal hearing and vision, many fail to learn to read and write. Lee Biosolutions supports Churchills Scholarship program.

Terri's Tutors, a component of Churchill's Outreach Program, provides educational support and free tutoring to school age children who are experiencing learning problems as a result of cancer treatment. It is now generally accepted that central nervous system treatments for childhood cancer can result in significant cognitive impairments and learning problems. It was the dream of one of Churchill's former teachers, Terri Thornton, to combine her teaching expertise and the insight she gained through her own cancer experience, to tutor young cancer survivors.