Construction and service go hand in hand for Ron Jerdon of New Tripoli who recently earned the title “Man of the Year” for his fundraising efforts for the 2018 Lehigh Valley Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Man and Woman of the Year campaign.

Jerdon, owner of Jerdon Construction Services, decided to get involved with the Leukemia and Lymphoma’s fundraising efforts after several important people in his life were affected by blood cancer.

When one of his employees was diagnosed with leukemia in 2016, Jerdon and employees at Jerdon Construction Services sprang into action to help raise funds for their co-worker.

That was when Jerdon was introduced to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and its mission to cure blood cancers and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

“Constructing A Cure” became the central theme for Jerdon and his team of family and friends as they worked over a 10-week period to raise more than $116,000 and watch him claim the honor of Man of the Year at the grand finale June 7 at DeSales University.

Dr. Kimberly Yarnall of Monroe County raised more than $103,000 earning her the title Woman of the Year.

Inspiration for this year’s campaign was in honor of two children from the Lehigh Valley who have battled blood cancer - Reilly Shimko of Walnutport and Giuliana Giannone from Easton.

Collectively the 17 candidates broke a Lehigh Valley record by raising $732,447.

For information about The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Man and Woman of the Year campaign, visit mwoy.org/epa.