WASHINGTON, D.C. -

Mercedes-Benz dealers in the Washington, D.C., area  now have been the raffle presenting sponsor for 15 years in a row in The National Capital Area Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

This year, these dealers have donated a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 Cabriolet as the grand prize, a unit with an MSRP of $57,725. They’ve also offered up a 2011 C300 Sport Sedan, a vehicle with an MSRP of $34,865.

The vehicles are set to be raffled off during the society’s 24th annual Leukemia Ball and 100 percent of the proceeds generated from raffle sales go directly toward funding to find a cure for blood cancers

For the past 24 years, the Leukemia Ball has reigned as greater Washington, D.C.’s single largest non-political black-tie event and has raised more than $40 million since it began in 1988, officials highlighted.

This year’s event is taking place on Saturday at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The event features a musical performance by “a bona-fide living legend” as well as a silent auction to raise additional funding for the cause.

Raffle tickets are on sale now for $100 and organizers printed only 6,000 tickets. Ticket holders need not be present to win. 

“On behalf of the Washington area’s Mercedes-Benz dealers, we are proud to be a part of one of the most successful charitable events in Washington,” stated Pete Collins, Mercedes-Benz USA Northeast Region Area Manager.

“It is of the utmost importance to our dealers to support local causes within the community that our customers care about,” Collins added.

To purchase a raffle ticket, call (703) 399-2900. For more details about the event, visit www.leukemiaball.org.