My name is Tony Di Giovanni and I was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) on July 27th, 2009. 

In 1995, APL carried with it a 100% mortality rate but today, because of research and the development of a drug called ATRA, APL has a 5-year survival rate of over 95%! I remember 1995 very well: OJ Simpson was trying on a glove in court; Forrest Gump was eating chocolates; Yahoo and eBay were founded; the Million Man March was happening in Washington; the federal building in Oklahoma was bombed; there was a war in Bosnia. It wasn't that long ago. If I'd have been diagnosed then, I would not be alive today.  As a direct result of research, APL has gone from being one of the most fatal blood cancers to one of the most curable.  I truly believe that research is very important ? and I am a living example that it works!

After months of chemotherapy, blood and platelet transfusions, bone marrow biopsies and countless tests, I was given my complete remission diagnosis on November 19, 2009. I will never forget that day!  I cannot express to you how incredibly grateful I am for the people and the generous support that contributed to me being here today.  I recently turned 40-years-old, became a godfather to a beautiful little boy named Noah, completed three half marathons with Team In Training and have raised over $12,000 to date for blood cancer research.  

Those of you who do research, those of you who give financial support and those of you who fight each day to win your own battle with blood cancer, you are all my heroes and I applaud you! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!!