On Wednesday September 8, 2010 Dave Miller was golfing at Lake Arrowhead Golf Course in Nekoosa, Wisconsin when he experienced shortness of breath and fatigue. He simply couldn’t finish his round of golf.

Three days later, blood tests confirmed Dave had Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). On Monday, September 13th, he passed away. Dave was 78 years old.

AML is a type of blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow. According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, it results from acquired changes in the DNA (genetic material) of a developing marrow cell. Once the marrow cell becomes a leukemic cell, it multiplies uncontrollably into billions of cells. AML mainly affects people over the age of 60.

That first year in 2012, 40 some golfers showed up for the outing. We raised a little more than $7,500 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) of Wisconsin. So Long to Leukemia may have started small, but our dreams were big. Now, we close Ironwood Golf Course with over 200 golfers participating. Our fundraising efforts to date are more than $380,000.

“So long” was Dave’s trademark whenever we said good-bye. It’s become our mantra for the outing — to help beat blood cancer by raising money to pay for medical research, patient and family support programs, and more. All of it stays right here in Wisconsin, helping patients and their families. This includes $2,000 in books donated for children and their families in the Blood Cancer Unit at Froedtert Hospital, as well as the 38 children and their families we sponsored for Christmas, including gifts and gift cards.

Dave was an average golfer who was fortunate enough to achieve a hole in one — not once but twice — in his lifetime.

Dave would always tell us, “It’s not good-bye, but so long for now until we meet again.” We honor his memory with this golf outing — a pastime he enjoyed immensely — and with it we give hope to others that we can all someday say “so long” to leukemia.

S P O N S O R E D   B Y

We Remember Dave...

In 2022 — we mark our twelfth year as a charity. We are pushing beyond past goals, setting new expectations and recognizing more members of our extended family.

In addition to honoring Dave Miller, we celebrate survivor stories and remember others who fought leukemia, the most common cancer diagnosed in children and teens.

Survivor Stories…

When Brooklyn Seppala was three years old, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The doctors said she was “high-risk” because her body wasn’t responding to chemotherapy. She took medicines every day, and was sore, sick, and tired a lot.

After two-and-a-half years of treatments, nine-year old Brooklyn will be in remission four years in December 2020. She still visits Children’s Wisconsin six times a year to make sure the cancer doesn’t come back.

At Christmas, “So Long” adopted Brooklyn and her family. One of her favorite gifts from us was a Disney Doc McStuffins van filled with medical supplies. Her mom says she loved playing with it, and that she finally got to be the doctor for a while instead of the patient in real life.

Brooklyn’s family is thankful for everyone who supported them through a difficult time in their lives.

In Memory…

We first met Landon Cartwright at Children's Hospital in 2013. Landon had been in remission for two and a half years in his struggle with Acute Lymphatic Leukemia (ALL). So Long to Leukemia granted Landon his Christmas Wish in 2013 while he was undergoing his last chemotherapy treatment in a three-year program.

Landon Cartwright passed away Sept. 18, 2015. He was 12 years old. 

A 2014 graduate of Germantown High School, Tanner Sullivan was planning on enjoying the summer with friends before heading to UW-Milwaukee in the fall.

Ten days after graduation, tests confirmed Acute Lymphatic Leukemia (ALL). Tanner died January 15, 2015, seven months after his diagnosis. "I know God works in certain ways,” says Christine Becker, Tanner's mother. “If Tanner couldn't be whole, he wouldn't like it."

Jaxson Crawford was born on June 22, 2015, and just over a year later he was diagnosed with AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia). This beautiful little boy was born with Down Syndrome, which put Jaxson at a much greater risk for developing this horrific disease.

Jaxson’s mother, Lisa Lattin, describes Jaxson as being born with a heart of gold and having a smile that could light up a room. Lisa said, “He was the happiest little boy, even throughout his treatments. There wasn’t a person he came across that didn’t fall in love with him or his beautiful smile and personality.”

Since Jaxson’s AML was extremely aggressive, he was too sick to undergo a bone marrow transplant. On January 14, 2017, Jaxson lost his battle with leukemia after fighting for over four months. “We miss him like crazy every single second of every single day,” says Lisa. “He was my superstar and my most perfect little boy.”

We first met Angel Hojnacki Wagner and her family when she was in the ICU at Children’s Wisconsin. Angel was eleven years old when she was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphatic Leukemia on May 3, 2017. Harsh treatments meant Angel spent more time in the hospital than at home.

On Christmas morning 2017, three weeks after Angel’s twelfth birthday, she was rushed to the emergency room. No one could have predicted that Angel would not be coming home. After courageously fighting for seven weeks in the ICU, Angel passed away on February 13, 2018.

Theresa Owens, Angel’s grandmother, said, “She wasn’t just a part of our life, she was our life. So many hopes and dreams for her are gone. She would have accomplished so much.” So Long to Leukemia brought gifts to Angel during some of the most difficult days. Theresa said, “You all brought so much joy in such a dark and devastating time for us.

We visited Dakaicia Thomas White in December of 2018 at Children’s Wisconsin and brought her Christmas presents. Dakaicia had several medical issues including a kidney transplant, Lymphoma, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). These medial issues caused many complications that weakened her lungs.

On April 4th of this 2019, at age 13, Dakaicia passed away.

“Dakaicia - my little princess - loved to give to others,” says Ledora Meadows, her grandmother. “She was very active at her church, serving as an acolyte and usher. She also helped with Pearls of Tenn girls and confirmation classes. Her favorite thing was to visit the seniors at the local nursing home, playing games with them and praying with them. She loved and was loved by her family and church friends.”