In Honor Of Son Who Died Of Cancer, Survivor Seeks ‘Visionary' Award

OSSINING, NY — If he could, Jeff Saper would raise a billion dollars for research, advocacy and care for people with blood cancers. It’s not just that he’s in remission, or that his daughter is a cancer survivor, it’s mostly in memory of his son Riley, who died of a virulent leukemia.

“The essence is — he’s in my heart. I’m in my office here at home, his picture is everywhere. I vowed when he died that I would do everything in my power to help end blood cancers,” said Saper, who is running a campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Visionary of the Year.

Riley died in 2010, six months after he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

“It was a shock,” Saper told Patch. "Pediatric leukemias are very difficult to treat, specially AML. Now, there's lots of research and more money coming into play — hopefully to come up with better treatments. Back then, the treatments were antiquated, many extremely toxic."

Riley’s death wasn’t just a shock to his family, but to his friends and classmates. A seventh-grader at Anne M. Dorner Middle School when he died, he had a page in the yearbook in his classmates' senior year at Ossining High School. At their graduation ceremony, they kept one chair empty and tied a green balloon (Riley's favorite color) to it.

Riley was 13 in 2010. Three years later, his sister Jenna was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Five years after that, Saper and his wife were running a half-marathon to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society when he said to her, "I don’t feel well." He was diagnosed with Hairy Cell Leukemia.

"It was a cascade," he told Patch.

However, "Unlike Riley, I was 'fortunate' to be part of a trial program at Memorial Sloan Kettering," he said. "Every six months, I go back to MSK for blood work and evaluation. Every six months, I pray that my numbers remain normal.

"There was Riley, there is me, and there is my daughter. I vow to do all I can to end blood cancers and, hopefully, all cancers."

Since 2010, he has been involved with various activities with the LLS. "I’m on the local chapter board of directors. I have been chairman of this event, which used to be called Man and Woman of the Year. I'm also the New York state public advocacy lead."

As a global leader in the fight against blood cancer, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which is based in Westchester:

• Funds cutting-edge research leading to breakthroughs in immunotherapy, genomics, and personalized medicine that are improving and saving the lives of patients.
• Provides free education and support for blood cancer patients and families, including personalized, one-on-one support, assistance with identifying and enrolling in clinical trials, and more.
• Mobilizes thousands of advocates to drive policy changes that accelerate the development of new cancer treatments and break down barriers to care.

In the 13 years since Riley died, many good things have happened in terms of research and treatment, Saper said.

"But there’s still a long, long, long way to go," he said. "The money we raise in this campaign goes to advocacy, patient care and research. It’s a holistic thing."

It's not the only way he honors his son. In the teen room at the Ossining Library there’s a picture of Riley. Every year they award a "voracious reader of the year" award, which Saper presents.

At Claremont School, there is a tree just to the left of the front door. It has a plaque. There's another tree and plaque at Glendale Farms, part of the Teatown Nature Preserve. The local United Martial Arts is hosting a kick-a-thon in April in Riley's memory.

And he supports the LLS. "I’m passionate about all of it, actually," Saper said.

This year, he was nominated for the society's Visionary of the Year award.

It’s an honor to be asked, he said. It’s also hard work. Nominees tap all the resources they can to collect as much money as they can for the LLS’s work — research, public advocacy, and patient support.

"We’re making it a community thing as best we can," he said. "If you want to join our team and spread the word, that’s the best thing you can do, because that just expands the network."

You can support his effort by joining the team, becoming a sponsor or just donating. Check out his candidate page here.