I am honored to inform you that the South-Central Austin Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has nominated me as a candidate in their 2nd annual Students of the Year fundraising challenge. I could not be more excited to make a difference in the lives of patients across the country! Unfortunately, each of our lives has been touched in some way by cancer.

I lost my grandfather to lung cancer in 2013. My grandfather came over from Nicaragua in 1958 and worked extremely hard to be able to bring my grandmother, aunt, and uncle to America as well.  He was one of the most caring, compassionate and hardworking men I have ever met. Immigrating here was one of the hardest things he had to do, especially since he had to leave my grandmother for about two years before he could afford for them to come as well. He fought a long battle with cancer.  Toward the end, he was put in hospice and given 3 months to live. Sadly, he passed away only a week later. My father tried to be with him in his final moments, but unfortunately, his flight landed about 2 hours after my grandfather had already passed. My father never got a chance to say goodbye to a man who had sacrificed everything for him and his siblings. Seeing the way this affected my father was heartbreaking. This experience inspired me to contribute to finding a cure for cancer so that other families will not have to go through a loss like the one that my family, especially my father, experienced. I know that LLS is funding groundbreaking research that benefits blood cancers, but this research has helped other cancers as well.

Did you know that between 2000 and 2017 approximately 40% of cancer-fighting therapies approved by the FDA were first approved to treat blood cancer patients and many of these have gone onto help other types of cancer patients? For example, Gleevec®, first approved to treat patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, is now approved for certain rare forms of stomach and skin cancers, and Rituxan®, first approved to treat lymphoma patients, is now approved to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. LLS's tireless work on behalf of patients is truly inspiring.

LLS is an amazing non-profit organization whose fundraisers help provide research for blood cancers (Hodgkin’s disease, myeloma, leukemia, and lymphoma). LLS offers support for patients, survivors, their families, and as I just mentioned, helps to advance the science behind other cancers through its research. Unfortunately, there is no early detection for blood cancers, only the search for a cure.

The 7-week campaign will commence on January 11, 2018 and end with a Grand Finale Celebration on March 2^nd where Austin’s Student of the Year will be announced. Every dollar counts as a “vote” towards my campaign and the Student with the most “votes” will be named the winner.

I would appreciate your help with this cause and I also ask that you give in whatever capacity you feel comfortable with. You can also help raise funds by inviting others to donate and inquiring with your employer about corporate matching programs. Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you would like to attend our campaign-ending Grand Finale Celebration or receive sponsorship information/ discuss in-kind donations.

Thank you so much for your help, as everyone wins when cancer loses and it is your gift that makes a difference!

                        Salvador Lacayo, My Grandfather