Luke Somerfield has a passion for helping people navigate the complexities of the American healthcare system.

It’s what prompted him to open his own Nashville-area health insurance brokerage, Custom Health Advisors, last April, and what led him to be nominated as a 2024 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) “Visionary of the Year” candidate.

During the annual 10-week campaign, candidates form fundraising teams to raise money for two local individuals battling blood cancer. The individual raising the highest amount is awarded the prestigious title of LLS “Visionary of the Year” during a grand finale to the campaign on May 9 at Geodis Park in Nashville. At this special event, selected local heroes fighting cancer will be honored and additional awards will be presented.  

Luke’s local beneficiaries are Paula Walker of LaVergne, who is battling Mixed Cellularity Hodgkin Lymphoma, and Charlie Fogarty of Nashville, who is battling T-Cell ALL.

Candidates for “Visionary of the Year” are nominated by past participants. Luke was nominated by friend Erik Lindsey.

“I am humbled to have been nominated by Erik,” says Luke. “In my business, I provide folks with transparent information about how our healthcare system works, so people have a better understanding moving forward. Because this opportunity was directly in line with what I do in support of healthcare, I decided to take a leap of faith and step out of my comfort zone to raise money for one of the leading chronic disease non-profits in the world.”

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., the LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. It is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to curing blood cancers including leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma. LLS strives to improve the quality of life of patients and their families by funding lifesaving blood cancer research worldwide.

In addition to his passion for healthcare, Luke has a personal interest in supporting such a worthy cause.

“I’m dedicating this campaign to my ‘second mom,’ Jane Sidwell, whom we lost last year after a heroic battle with cancer,” Luke says. “I knew her since I was in pre-school, and her son Matt and I are still very close. I spent countless hours at their house, and she and her husband Jim loved me like their own. Jane was a teacher in her younger days, and she always had a heart for giving and caring for each child in her own special way. I was lucky enough to be the recipient of the warmth, love, and grace she carried herself with every day of her life.”

Raising a targeted amount in a 10-week period inherently presents many challenges. Luke knew he would have to hit the ground running.

“My goal is to put together an online auction featuring music memorabilia from a wide array of artists as well as "stay and play" packages in Middle Tennessee,” explains Luke. “If it’s possible within the time frame, we’d love to also host a small benefit concert, and I'm very open to any suggestions from folks or businesses who may want to become involved as sponsors.”

Since the 1960s, survival rates for blood cancers have increased by four times the rate they once were, due in large part to fundraising efforts by the LLS. In fact, 90 percent of every dollar raised goes directly to research, support for patients undergoing treatment, and advocacy for policy change on a local and national level.

“I'm not aware of any other non-profits that are able to truly make as much of an impact as the LLS, not only on an international scale, but with so much of each dollar going directly to the mission,” emphasized Luke.

If you or someone you know is interested in impacting blood cancer research by supporting Luke Somerfield’s candidacy for “Visionary of the Year,” please see the information below to find out more about ways to help.