"We're playing to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a way of offering hope and gratitude," says band member Kevin Hearn. "I'm a leukemia survivor, and the Society plays an essential role helping patients cope and funding ways to find cures."

The pay-per-view concert will be broadcast live Friday from New York at 9 p.m. ET. Guinness is donating $100,000 and will provide bars and restaurants with paper "pints" which can be purchased for a $1 donation to the Society.

Hearn was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in 1998 at the age of 29. "We were recording our album Stunt in Austin, Texas," recalls Hearn. "I developed chronic fatigue and a cough that just wouldn't go away."

Hearn attributed his condition to the stress of recording, but as the work was ending, his symptoms only got worse. When Hearn got back to Toronto, he had a full checkup, and after his blood test, the doctor immediately referred him to a specialist.

"I knew something was up, and I was incredibly nervous," says Hearn. "But after my diagnosis, the reality didn't sink in for days. When it finally hit me, all I could do was cry."

At that point, family and friends rallied in support. "We were told my best chances involved a bone marrow transplant from a close relative," says Hearn. "While my whole family was holding its breath, my brother Sean said, 'I know it's gonna be me, and everything's going to be great.'"

It turned out Sean was a match � and so was Hearn's sister Mary-Pat. Doctors picked Sean because of the additional gender compatibility. Hearn immediately checked into the hospital, and the transplant was conducted on June 25, 1998.

'When I Fall'

About 31,500 cases of leukemia will be diagnosed in the USA this year. Of these, approximately 5,100 are cases of CML.

Although most cases of leukemia occur in older adults, leukemia is the most common cause of cancer deaths among men under age 40 and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women under age 20.

Despite these statistics, the overall five-year survival rate has tripled in the past 40 years, to 44 percent, thanks to research and better treatment. Among children under age 15 with acute lymphocytic leukemia, the overall five-year survival rate has risen to 81%.

Nearly all CML patients are diagnosed at a point where the disease can be controlled by chemotherapy. The drug interferon is the most common treatment. Patients usually can resume their regular routine, but they need frequent treatments and periodic health checks.

Bone marrow transplantation, also known as stem cell transplantation, is an important and effective therapy for CML patients when the marrow comes from a precisely matched donor. Dr. Marshall Lichtman, executive vice-president for research and medical programs at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, says bone marrow transplants are currently the only curative treatment for CML.

"Kevin Hearn's happy outcome represents an example of the triumph of research supported by the Society," says Lichtman. "But unfortunately, bone marrow transplants can't be provided to the vast majority of patients with CML." Lichtman explains that 80-90% of CML patients are either too old to endure the rigors of transplantation or are unable to find a matching donor.

But Lichtman reports that new, effective medications are on the way. One of the newest drugs, Gleevec, has shown to have startling success among patients who no longer respond to current conventional therapies. "Gleevec inhibits the production of an enzyme that happens to be the particular one which causes the malignant transformation of blood cells in CML," says Lichtman.

While Lichtman is optimistic about the prospect of continued remission among CML patients who are candidates for Gleevec, he cautions that this newest therapy is not a panacea. "We still rely on interferon as the first line of defense in combating this disease," says Lichtman.

'I Live With It Every Day'

Even for those CML patients lucky enough to receive bone marrow transplants, the road to recovery is difficult. "After my transplant, I was isolated for four weeks to avoid infection," says Hearn. "It was tough, both physically and emotionally."

In fact, for all leukemia patients, the diagnosis and treatment may provoke a strong emotional response. Denial, depression, anger, and a feeling of hopelessness are common reactions. But frequent talks among patient, physicians, and family can help.

"I had my guitar," says Hearn. "Even when people couldn't visit, I could write music and keep in touch with my bandmates by email." But Hearn admits it was still difficult to hold his head up through the pain and the uncertainty.

"I had to keep reminding myself why I was going through all this misery," says Hearn. "The answer was I had to do whatever it took to stay alive."

Hearn says it's essential to never give up in the face of illness. "You need tenacity, persistence, and optimism. Your body needs to know your mind is working with you and not against you," says Hearn.

Hearn credits his largely positive attitude with giving his body the chance to rebound with the minimum amount of stress possible.

"The advice I'd give anyone going through this is, yeah, it sucks, but you have to think long-term. Gathering the courage to face the nightmare every day gives you the best chance to win."