Findlay executive helps battle leukemia

As the marketing/Internet director for Findlay Kia, Marc Lewis often finds himself reaching out to the community. One of the many charitable groups he works with yearly is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Lewis is among the candidates for 2011 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Southern Nevada Chapter’s Man and Woman of the Year honors to be presented May 11 at Red Rock Resort. He will be representing 4-year-old Kennedy Aitken, who is fighting leukemia and lymphoma.

To be nominated for the honor, Lewis has been raising money to help the Aitken family in its battle to defeat the two diseases.

“I’m asking everyone that I know to help little Kennedy in her battle,” said Lewis, the father of two boys, Jordan, 19, and Bradley, 4. “Thank the good Lord, our family has never had to battle anything like this, so I can only imagine what the Aitkens have been through for the past several years.”

Kennedy has been battling leukemia and lymphoma since she was 3. The medical bills have been staggering and the emotional strain is never-ending, said the family.

“She’s a strong little girl. While we might complain about having to deal with influenza, she has had much tougher battles; and she has fought back with incredible courage. She is now in remission and will hopefully finish her treatment by the end of the year,” Lewis said.

Lewis has reached out to fellow Findlay Automotive Group companies that include Findlay Chevrolet, Audi Henderson, Subaru of Las Vegas and his own employer, Findlay Kia.

“Our finance manager Sarah Wilbur has been my campaign manager and she didn’t hesitate a bit,” he said. “Her family has also suffered from issues like blood cancer, so she knows firsthand. She has been right beside me through all of this and her fundraising skills are invaluable.”

One of Wilbur’s closest friends died of leukemia in 2012.

“If the money we raise can help just one person, it’s all worth it,” said Wilbur, who has lived in Las Vegas for six years. “But hopefully, we will be able to help a lot more people this year.”

Lewis said the response has been incredible. He said Kennedy wants to have her ears pierced once her treatments are completed.

“I have even had friends from high school call me that I haven’t heard from in years. When people hear of a young person who is having health problems especially as serious as leukemia and lymphoma, they immediately rise to the occasion,” Lewis said. “There also has been no end to the Findlay stores that are also providing help.”

Today, Viva Vegas TV will host a fundraiser at Lily Lounge at the Bellagio beginning at 7 p.m.

Further information can be found by calling 702-982-4521 or by visiting www.mwoy.org/pages/snv/vegas13/marci.

Findlay Kia, at 5325 W. Sahara Ave., is part of Findlay Automotive Group, which was founded more than 50 years ago by the late Pete Findlay. Operations in Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Idaho are now headed by Findlay’s son, Cliff Findlay.