The Wisconsin Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will greet visitors at the Wisconsin State Fair Monday, Aug. 6, with vampire teeth and a mission to raise awareness about blood cancer.
The nonprofit organization will take over the Jeffrey Scott Activity Stage at the fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to distribute information about blood cancer and host activities geared toward children.
“It’s a good place to reach out statewide to all the people that the fair does attract,” said Casey Witkowski, school and youth campaign manager for the society.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s theme at the fair will center on “Cancer Bites,” and the nonprofit will bring along Vlad the Vampire, a society volunteer and blood cancer survivor dressed up to engage kids in awareness of blood cancer.
Vlad will hand out vampire teeth to kids, and volunteers will offer “Cancer Bites” temporary tattoos. They’ll also take kids’ pictures in a Shutter Box photo booth, where kids can show the camera their scariest smile with their vampire fangs. Kids will be able to color vampire pictures as well.
“(Blood cancer is) not something that everyone has knowledge of, yet it affects a very wide range of people,” Witkowski said. “Blood cancer doesn’t discriminate and there isn’t currently a way to screen for it.”
