Scott Redler, a graduate of Syosset High School, met Steven Perez while still in high school and they formed an immediate bond. They met in New York City in a nightclub and realized they both had a knack for planning events. They started working together promoting clubs. Then, as roommates at the University at Albany, they expanded their network and planned events for their fraternities as well as other college parties.

After college, Redler and Perez worked and lived together in New York City and in the summer enjoyed houses in the Hamptons. They continued to throw parties - the largest was at the Paramount Theater at Madison Square Garden for approximately 3,500 people.

"All Steve wanted to do was make people happy and help them have a great time," said Redler. "Everyone loved him. He was always talking to people and was fun to be around."

As his 30th birthday neared, Redler started training for a sprint triathlon. For his 30th birthday, his friends organized a surprise party for him and Perez gave Redler a racing bike, to motivate him to rise to the ultimate challenge of competing in a triathlon. Along with the bike, Perez promised, "I'll be there when you finish."

At the young age of 29, Redler's friend, Perez, was diagnosed with CML, a rare form of leukemia. Perez died six weeks later and left Redler, as well as many friends and family members, devastated, but with an unwavering resolve to push his body to the limit in memory of his friend.

"Every memory I have was with him there," said Redler. "Instead of getting depressed I decided to do something positive. I took the bike he got me and started training at Bally Total Fitness even more often."

On Sunday, July 10, Redler will Race for a Cure and run 10K, swim 1,500M and bike 40K to commemorate the memory of his best friend and to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Even though Perez is not able to see Redler at the finish line his words are the driving force of Redler's determination to complete the race. Redler is looking to raise $20,000, with half of the proceeds going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The other half will go to the Steven M. Perez Foundation to help honor his great friend. He has raised approximately $15,000 thus far.

"Instead of promoting clubs and throwing great parties, I am working with my friends memory to help people gain awareness about this disease," said Redler.

The Steven M. Perez Foundation has been established to celebrate the life of Steven Perez. The goal of the foundation is to spread the essence of his life and his zest for fun-filled experiences to other young people. The foundation helps people who have been directly or indirectly affected by leukemia and other related cancers. Funds raised in Steven's name will continue to be invested to help ensure fewer patients and their families are affected by these devastating diseases.

Six local high school seniors, including students from Syosset High School, Jericho High School, Plainview Old Bethpage JFK High School and Dix Hills High School, will benefit from the fund in the form of scholarships. Students will be selected based on the essays they submitted. The recipients of the foundation funds are encouraged to find happiness in their future and a path leading them to that goal which will be lit by Steven's ever-present smile and your generous donations.

Looking to raise more money and awareness, Redler is hoping he can find a corporate sponsor. He said, if a big company could back him with funding, he would train, in a year, for the Ironman, which is a 2.5-mile swim, 100-mile bike ride and a marathon. "That money would really help a lot of people. I would be willing to train if I could just get a company to step up," said Redler.

Redler said that he and his friends learned an unfortunate lesson the hard way and he would like to prevent anyone else from learning it the way he did - get regular check ups at the doctor. "Sometimes, when we are in our 20s and 30s we think we are invincible, but Steve's passing proves that we're not. We all need regular check ups at the doctor," said Redler.

To make a donation, please visit http://www.active.com/donate/tntnyc/tntnycSRedler. The website that has been set up in Steven Perez's memory is www.smpfoundation.org.

About 4,600 new cases of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) are diagnosed each year in the United States. Anyone can get leukemia- leukemia affects all ages and sexes and the cause is not known. At the present time there are approximately 187,285 people living with leukemia in the United States. An estimated 33,440 new cases of leukemia will be diagnosed in the United States this year.