Contact: Louise DuPont

Springate dedicated her campaign to her husband, Roger Springate, who is a survivor of multiple myeloma, and her family. She has been a nurse for 26 years, many of those years in oncology.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 5, 2005) -- Suzanne Springate, patient care manager of the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, has been named the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Bluegrass Woman of the Year 2005. Springate raised over $4,000 for the society at their 5th Annual Bourbon Tasting at Taylor Made Farm. She was awarded woman of the year for her fund-raising efforts and dedication toward finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma in Kentucky.

Springate said, “Receiving the Bluegrass Woman of the Year award is just a reflection of the goodness and dedication I find every day in the scientists, nurses and physicians with whom I work at the Markey Cancer Center.”

Nine men and women spent the past eight weeks vying for the title of 2005 Bluegrass Man and Woman of the Year. Each dollar they raised counted as one vote in their campaign. In addition to sending out letters and using online personal pages, they hosted dinners and events in order to raise money. They also solicited auction items that were sold at the annual event. Suzanne dedicated her campaign to her husband, Roger Springate, who is a survivor of multiple myeloma, and her family. She has been a nurse for 26 years, many of those years in oncology.