William Raveis addresses the Damon Runyon Cancer

William “Bill” Raveis, the chairman and CEO of William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage & Insurance (WRRE) was honored by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation for his fundraising efforts, which have generated over $2 million in donations for cancer research.

Raveis’ wife, Candy, is a survivor of acute myeloid leukemia. Initially given a prognosis of four months to live, she is recovering after four years, two bone marrow transplants and multiple other treatments developed in part by research scientists funded by Damon Runyon.

Borne from a family conversation about what they could do to give back more in the wake of Candy’s recovery, WRRE’s charitable fund launched the Raveis Ride + Walk in 2015. Held annually in Norwalk, this community bike ride and family walk has raised more than $2 million and funded 16 scientists with the William Raveis Charitable Fund Fellowships. Throughout his wife’s cancer journey, he saw that “you must have tenacity,” he said in a statement. “You must believe in yourself and believe you’re going to beat the odds and live.”

“In starting your own business as well as in cancer research, there are a lot of unknowns,” Raveis added. “The journey has a lot of pitfalls and at times is not fun but having the desire to achieve your vision pushes you through all the ups and downs. It is about more than money – it’s about who you are and what you want to do with your life.”

“Bill has built a great business with passion, commitment to excellence and brilliance. Sound familiar? That’s Damon Runyon. That’s what our scientists do. Bill brings the same passion to cancer research,” Alan M. Leventhal, chair of Damon Runyon’s board of directors, said in a statement.

The June 5 breakfast honoring Raveis itself raised more than $1.1 million to support scientists pursuing innovative strategies to prevent, diagnose and treat all forms of cancer.