If any town can put the fun in fund-raising, it's New Orleans. It's no exception when Donald Trump, Jr. (right) and Chad Landry (left) polish their disco looks for what Landry created after his battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma - the Lympho-Maniac benefit dance contest at Republic New Orleans.
"This party started off eight years ago in an uptown backyard," says Landry. "That night we didn't have alcohol sponsors, we didn't have it catered by numerous local restaurants, and we certainly didn't have Don and Vanessa Trump Jr (pictured below) judging our dance contest. But there was one thing we had that night that we have every year we throw this party and that's some of the coolest and most civic minded New Orleanians stepping up and contributing to the Lympho-Maniac fundraising cause!"
Landry's battle with lymphoma started in 1995 when, at 20, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and was classified as a Stage II-B. This means his cancer showed systemic symptoms with two or more lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm or one lymph node region and a contiguous extralymphatic site. "My chemotherapy oncologist gave me a 50% chance of survival."
After eight months of chemo and radiation therapy, Landry's doctors declared him to be in remission.
To help give back, in 2002 Landry decided to hold a party with the help of friends and family to raise awareness and money for local cancer non-profits. This year's recipient was the American Cancer Society's Patrick F. Taylor Hope Lodge in New Orleans. Their goal was $40,000 and $41,000 was raised.
"The reaction to our event has been amazing," Landry says. A Lympho-Maniac is someone who is passionate about life and an individual who lives life to the fullest every day."
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