Living strong in the Poconos

Leukemia patient Bob Kiesendahl said his life was saved by the treatments he received at the Hutchinson Center — and through the generosity of a bone-marrow donor he'd never met.

And because others helped him live, Bob emerged from his ordeal determined to help others.

"Cancer never leaves you, it's always in the back of your head," Bob said. "The whole experience: What you went through and how far you've come. What if it comes back? These are all very powerful thoughts and emotions."

Today, the East Coast native sponsors four different events to raise money for cancer research. Last year, his 5-kilometer walk/run, golf tourney, swim, and a motorcycle tour that drew 200 riders, raised about $400,000, all under the banner of "Hope Cures." "I have pushed each of my sons through the 5K," Bob said.

As he nears the 10th anniversary of his transplant, Bob can't help but think about his good fortune. There was no bone marrow match in his family, but he found a donor through the national registry.

He met his donor a couple of years after his transplant; he was serving in the Air Force and had no history of cancer in his family. "He registered because he thought it was the right thing to do. He never viewed it as saving someone's life," Bob said.

Today, the two men have become good friends and their families get together at least once a year for a vacation.

Bob was diagnosed with leukemia only three months after marrying Jennifer. And shortly after that, they found out she was pregnant.

"My family, my son, they were the inspiration to fight and go on," Bob said. Today, the couple has three children, Zach, 8, Luke 3, and Drew, 18 months.

Reminded of his own struggles when he read about the newly established Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Survivorship Program, Bob called from his home in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania to offer his support.

He made a donation from his annual charity golf tournament directly to the program, a member of the Lance Armstrong Foundation's LIVESTRONG Survivorship Center of Excellence Network.

Because of his efforts, Bob won the foundation's LIVESTRONG Survivor Award for his commitment to help other cancer survivors live life to the fullest, a commitment he shares with the Survivorship Program.

"Survivorship programs provide much-needed care, guidance and comfort to those who are entering the next phase of their lives after cancer," Bob said.

"There is a major adjustment that occurs after you are released from cancer care. It's a stage of redefining oneself. That's why survivorship programs are so critical."