Forest Hill teen’s art selected for LLS greeting card series

Michael Ritz, Jr., 13, designed this holiday card. It is one of three designs of a set being sold by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to fund research and other organziational activities.

Holiday greeting cards designed by three Maryland cancer survivors are being offered by the Maryland Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as part of its annual fundraising effort.  One card was designed by Forest Hill resident Michael Ritz, Jr.

Ritz, 13,  was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in 2003 and has been in remission for six years. He enjoys sports, including football, basketball and lacrosse, and playing video games.

Artists whose work was also selected are Georgia Cleland, an adult who has been cancer free for more than 20 years, was treated for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia and Emily Zimmerman, 12, was diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in 2005 and is currently in remission

Twenty-four card sets can be purchased for $25 by contacting Jackie Stem, donor  development director for the Maryland Chapter of LLS, at 410-891-1871 or by emailing her at jackie.stem@LLS.org.

LLS uses funds raised from the sale of these cards to help fund research to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.   This creative project was made possible by the Production Management Group , Columbia, MD. 

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), which is currently celebrating 60 years of service, is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services.  The Maryland Chapter of LLS, one of the most active chapters in the nation, supporting 11 Maryland-based researchers.