It was at a charity fund raiser, he says, and he did it to raise $200 for leukemia research.
The gathering also raised money for leukemia research at Oregon Health and Science University.
To raise money for leukemia research, they decided to pose for the group's annual calendar wearing pretty much nothing but pearls.
That philosophy has produced a marketing phenomenon: 300,000 calendars in print for this year and next, $750,000 raised for leukemia research.
In general, there are two types of leukemia research: clinical or translational research and basic research.
'But I've written to you three times and I want to interview you for leukemia research.'
Helped make giant strides in leukemia research.
Mills vigorously fought the disease and became involved in charity work by establishing a fund for leukemia research.
With the disease now in remission, he is devoting much of his energy to a foundation he has established to carry out leukemia research.
He has ridden his bicycle in the cause of the leukemia research and raised more than 1.1 million dollars.
