My name is Gianna Danese and I am a junior at Mater Dei High School. This year I am in charge of my own team, 2018 Student of the Year race for the cure– no, not a sports team – a cancer fighting team. I am honored to have been nominated to run my own campaign for the Orange County chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Student of the Year”. I am beyond thrilled and excited to be a part of such a wonderful cause. I have never been more inspired and moved by the LLS mission and the opportunity to make a difference. Last year, I was a team member of Caitlyn Fitzgerald’s campaign for the LA Woman of the Year Chapter. I personally raised $35,962 and was fortunate to have her as my mentor through this whole campaigning process. This year, I am inspired to go above and beyond my last year’s achievements, by raising $50,000.00 and  bring it home to the Orange County Chapter.

FOR ME - THIS CAMPAIGN MATTERS:

This campaign is very important to me, as I lost my grandfather to cancer last year. In January 2017, my grandfather, Ben Danese, had a mild heart attack. While in the hospital being treated, his doctors found out there was more going on than what he had been admitted for originally; multiple myeloma. Unfortunately, after just 10 days in the hospital, my grandfather passed away from lung, liver and kidney cancer... 


THERE IS HOPE WITH THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY (LLS):

Since the 1960’s, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has contributed over 1 billion dollars to finding a cure and responsible for doubling, tripling and in some cases even quadrupling the blood cancer survival rate. From 2000 to 2013, almost 40% of new anticancer drugs were approved by the FDA for blood cancer patients - recognized as the largest number of first-ever approvals for any other group of cancers; Breast Cancer, Brain Cancer, Kidney Cancer, Liver Cancer, Lung Cancer, Lupus Nephritis, Melanoma, Multiple Sclerosis, Ovarian Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Prostate Cancer and more... In 2017, alone, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society pledged $43,000,000 toward funding cancer research. 

OUR AMAZING SUPPORT SYSTEM – My Campaign “My Wish”: 

My team is not as big as Caitlyn’s but one common theme among my team members is we all have our personal story with Leukemia, Lymphoma and cancer. All of us have determination and an overwhelming passion for life and elevating others. We stand for making a difference. I stand for the idea as a student I can make a difference and hope to inspire other students to do the same. Being a part of making a difference and adding to the gift of an improbable possibility – finding a cure for cancer means a lot to me.   

MY (OUR) GOAL: 

In the spirit of embracing our passion for charitable endeavors and with the incredible support from our friends, families, and LLS, our team is trying to raise $50,000 in 7 weeks.  Please join me/us in raising this money so that hopefully it inspires future student to believe in themselves and run their own campaign, breathing life into their potential  - demanding to live in a world where cancer only borrows lives, and never takes them. 

THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN: 

It is with a hopeful heart, I graciously ask that you donate to my campaign and LLS; help us keep families whole by saving the lives of those battling cancer now, and in the future. You can donate through this link: https://events.lls.org/ocie/OCIESOY2018/gdanese All donations go directly to the cause which also includes patient services, advocacy, public and professional education and community services. 

With our humble efforts, and your generous contribution, we will significantly change lives - not someday, but today! 

Thank you so much for your consideration and hopefully your support.

Sincerely,

Gianna Danese