January 2016-The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Presents Polo for a Purpose
Wellington residents PJ Rizvi, Visse Wedell and Penny Bradley to chair event to support LLS’ efforts to find a cure.
(WELLINGTON, FL. November 9, 2015) – The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is proud to announce that PJ Rizvi, Penny Bradley, and Visse Wedell, all Wellington residents, will co-chair the Third Annual Polo for a Purpose, and survivor Brandon Phillips, also a resident of Wellington, will serve as Honorary Chairman. The event will take place on Monday, January 18, 2016, at the International Polo Club, 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington, FL 33414.
“Polo for a Purpose promises to be a signature event with talented and dedicated people at the helm,” said Pamela Payne, LLS Executive Director. “We are privileged that they have chosen to accept this leadership position and support the lifesaving mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.”
In addition to being the mother of four children with her husband Suhail, Co-Chair Rizvi is an accomplished, award-winning Grand Prix Dressage rider, both domestically and internationally. She began riding in 1992 as a form of emotional therapy, after losing her beloved sister, Penny, to a blood cancer. She began competing in her thirties and has since taken over the reins to fulfill her lifelong dream of riding her first Grand Prix. In Saugerties, NY, she won the East Coast Riders Cup FEI Grand Prix, and then continued her winning streak in Florida.
Co-Chair Bradley, an entrepreneur and real estate developer, spent her early life in Yorkshire, North England. A former corporate banker in London, Bradley earned her undergraduate degree in Banking and Finance from the Institute of Bankers. She moved to New York in 1997 as a member of the credit team with Coutts and Co., a British private bank. She obtained her Masters degree in Business from Columbia University and opened her real estate development business in 2000, purchasing townhouses and developing them into luxury single-family homes. She is often called upon to consult for banks and real estate professionals.
Co-Chair Wedell, a realtor associate, has immersed herself in knowing every detail of the real estate transaction, bolstered by her passion for building and creating beautiful spaces of her own. This combination of experience and professionalism gives her a one of a kind approach to her business that easily fits with any client’s needs. Her passion for construction and development, especially in the areas of estate and farm homes and properties, has led Wedell to become a well-rounded agent with unparalleled knowledge.
During his almost 20 years as a professional polo player and 5-goal handicap, Honorary Chairman, Phillips, has captured some of the sport’s most coveted trophies. Even though he has realized his dream to play at the top of his sport, he credits surviving Stage Four lymphoma as his greatest accomplishment. Diagnosed at 14 years old, Phillips was initially given six weeks to live. He endured five grueling months of intensive chemotherapy sessions, beat the odds and went into remission. Once recovered, he vowed to dedicate his life to doing what he loved – playing polo. Since then, Phillips has established himself as one of the world’s most talented polo players.
All proceeds from the Third Annual Polo with a Purpose will benefit LLS’s mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. While this event will raise funds for lifesaving blood cancer research, it will also help support our local patients and their families by providing critically-needed financial aid.
For more information, please contact Pamela Payne, Executive Director, at 561.616.8682 or [email protected].