Hoping for a cure as the final finish line

Lois Cropp recently completed a half-marathon in honor of Dan Roach to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Roach is a senior partner at Roach, Brown, McCarthy & Gruber, and Cropp is a legal nurse consultant at the same law firm.

In honor of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor Dan Roach, registered nurse Lois Cropp of Amherst competed in the third annual 13.3-mile Lake Placid Half-Marathon on June 10, running to raise awareness for leukemia and lymphoma research.

"I was thinking about Mr. Roach as well as family and friends ... knowing what they had gone through, therapy, hope of remission; that focus got me through," she said.

Cropp is a legal nurse consultant at the Buffalo law firm of Roach, Brown, McCarthy & Gruber, PC, where Roach is a senior partner. He was stricken with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1995 but is in remission.

"I can honestly say that I'm humbled and touched by Lois' gesture," said Roach.

Cropp has been running since the late 1970s and faced some challenging setbacks while preparing for the race. In February, Cropp was diagnosed with a major food allergy, which significantly altered her nutritional regimen. She also suffered a left leg fracture while training for the race, requiring six weeks of rest. Nonetheless, she was still 100 percent committed to taking part in the half-marathon.

"My goal was to overcome these obstacles, which are minor in comparison to the obstacles Dan had battling lymphoma," she said.

Searching for a cure for leukemia and lymphoma is a personal crusade for Cropp, as she has family and friends who have struggled with the diseases. She has expertise in emergency room nursing and has treated a number of patients with leukemia and lymphoma during the years.

She serves on the board of the Western New York/Finger Lakes Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She and her husband, Dr. Michael Cropp, president and CEO of Independent Health, served as co-chairs of the organization's annual Diamond Ball last year and participated in the recent Light the Night Walk. The Cropps will also take part in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 18th annual Gelatin Splash on June 15.

She was named the top local fundraiser with a total $6,100, in addition, Independent Health has also raised more than $11,000 from various fundraising events to support the local Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Roach has been an attorney with Roach, Brown, McCarthy & Gruber since 1955. Married for 55 years, the lifelong Buffalonian and his wife, Karin, have four children and 11 grandchildren.

Despite his illness, Roach has remained active in the community. He has been a trustee of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library for 12 years, including three years as chairman.

Those wishing to make a donation can visit www.active.com/donate/ tntwnyfl/tntwnyflLCropp.