NORTH ATTLEBORO - North Attleboro resident Terry Buckley is out to beat leukemia, and he needs your help.

Buckley has been nominated as a candidate for the Massachusetts Leukemia & Lymphoma Society "Man of the Year," for which the winner will be the man who raises the most amount of money to help fight the disease and assist those who suffer from it.

The event is part of the society's Man and Woman of the Year campaign, which began March 12 and ends on May 21, with every dollar raised counting as one vote.

The winners will be announced at a Grand Finale Gala on May 21, and featured in various media outlets across the state, including Boston Magazine.

The goal of the event is to increase awareness of the society's mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The money raised goes to fund vital research and patient services. That is also Buckley's personal goal, and his reasons for doing so are best summed up in his own words.

"My inspiration starts with losing my brother Sean who fought the disease for several years before succumbing to it in November of 1988. More recently my nephew CJ Buckley, who was born in 2001, was diagnosed with leukemia in March of 2007, and is still in treatment.

"An old neighbor of mine, Jack Strachan's son, "little Jack" was diagnosed with leukemia one week after CJ, and is also still in treatment.

"Another friend from town, Kim Ashworth, was diagnosed with lymphoma just under a year ago. She too has finished her treatment recently.

"I also had the pleasure of meeting and became friends with Joe Andruzzi of the New England Patriots, who last year successfully finished his treatment for lymphoma.

"Then, my new friend Jake Maguire of North Attleboro, the Massachusetts LLS "Boy of the Year," who celebrated his final treatment last August, started living his life the way an 8-year old boy should, by playing flag football, riding his bike, hanging out with his buddies and being a kid. Well, Jake found out Friday, March 27, his cancer has relapsed. He now has to undergo another two years of chemotherapy and radiation even more intense than the first round.

"These are people I know and care about, and give me a reason to accept the challenge to raise as much money to help find the cure for blood cancer."

Janette Boulay can be reached by phone or fax at 508-222-0993 or by e-mail at janette.boulay@gmail.com.