Pizza Fusion co-founders, Vaughan Lazar and Michael Gordon, recently returned from San Diego with a team of colleagues and friends where they ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in an effort to raise $38,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). After months of physical preparation with Team In Training (TNT), a fundraising arm of LLS, Team Pizza Fusion took on one of the world’s premier marathons that’s recognized as a 26.2-mile block party with live bands, hundreds of cheerleaders, themed water stations, and a post-race concert, which featured Pat Benatar this year.

Team Pizza Fusion ran in honor of their hero, Jordan, a 17-year-old survivor of acute myelogenous leukemia, who was there every step of the way motivating the team throughout their rigorous training. “I have learned to appreciate life and make the most of it,” Jordan states. “I have much vision and determination for success in the future and look forward to one day having a biomedical company pertaining to cancer research.”

The $38,000 Team Pizza Fusion raised went toward aiding LLS in fighting blood cancers via research and support. Through Pizza Fusion’s own Little Sprout Foundation, the team held various fundraisers and events around South Florida over the last six months to meet their donation goal.

“I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and excitement my colleagues expressed when I invited them to take on this amazing feat with me,” Vaughan says. “I admire each and every person who spent countless hours training and fundraising to make this all a reality. Not only were we able to raise tens of thousands of dollars to combat a major health epidemic, but we came together as a team of non-athletes and rose to the tremendous challenge of running 26.2 miles. It was truly a rewarding experience on a number of levels.”