Brad Hayes, a special education teacher at the Carver-Scott Educational Cooperative, and Michelle Kelly, of Wayzata, were named The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year at a Grand Finale Gala on June 13.

The fundraising campaign, presented by St. Paul-based Dedicated Logistics, Inc., raised $200,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Minnesota Chapter.

Hayes, of Elk River raised $56,248. He dedicated his campaign to his father, father-in-law, and two close friends, all who have had or are currently fighting leukemia or lymphoma, according to a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society press release.

Both winners will be featured in a national USA Today advertisement, and in local bus and magazine advertisements throughout the month of October. McKaela Grasmick of Chaska was also a candidate in the campaign.

Each year, hundreds of men and women in 42 cities across America vie for the  titles of Man & Woman of the Year by participating in a 10-week fundraising competition to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the release stated.

At the end of the ten weeks, the man and woman who have raised the most funds are named the Man & Woman of the Year.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., with 68 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services.

For more information about blood cancer, visit www.LLS.org or call (800) 955-4572.