Many thanks to those who have donated to the Red Elephants. We are making great progress toward our goal.  Week 1 of our 7 week campaign was very successful.  Please  spread the word about this worth while cause.

The Red Elephants:

Jenna Rizik (candidate)

Maddie Ewers (candidate)

Ashlyn McDonald

Abby Akers

Kylie Draddy

Lee Myers

Matthew Crowe

Thomas McCann

Christina Stavish

Welcome To My Fundraising Page!

I am honored to have been accepted as a candidate in the 2018 Students of the Year program, a seven-week initiative in which select high school students from around the country participate in a fundraising competition to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

I am raising critical dollars in honor of all those who have, are, and will battle cancer. I have personally witnessed and experienced the effects that cancer has on not only patients, but also the family and friends who are forced to watch their loved ones suffer. Two years ago my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and I was not only terrified, but saddened by watching her undergo treatment after treatment and surgry after surgery. I decided to participate in this campaign to raise awareness to those who suffer, and also to raise money so that one day we will live in a world where no one has to watch someone they love suffer from cancer.

Cancer, can often be the awkward elephant in the room that no one wants to discuss, but my team has decided that we want to address it and create awareness around blood cancer.  With this in mind we have decided to name our team the Red Elephants.  Our team wants to make a difference and do everything we can to spread awareness and lower the odds of someone hearing the news that they have cancer. Only 60 years ago, the five-year survival rate for children with Leukemia was 3%. Today, with the work of LLS, this number has been raised to 90%. Real change is being seen, and we are giving you the opportunity to be a part of it!

 Each dollar is a vote for my team. The candidate team who raises the most money at the end of the seven weeks is named Student of the Year. My mission is to not only raise the most money but also to bring attention to cancers like leukemia, which is the most common form of cancer in children and teens.

Since the early 1960s, five-year survival rates for many blood cancer patients have doubled, tripled or even quadrupled. And many LLS supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients but are helping patients with other cancers and serious diseases. In fact, drugs first approved for blood cancers are now approved to treat patients with stomach cancers, skin cancers, and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

We really are changing the face of blood cancer!

All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. They'll not only support LLS-funded research but will help provide critical information and support for patients, and support advocacy for laws to ensure patients can access the care and treatments they need.

Please visit our website often and bring friends who would also like to donate!

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere I thank you for your support!

For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org  

2016 Avon Walk to support my mom as she beat breast cancer!