Dear Friends and Family,

My name is Carmen Blanchard, and I am a 16 year old Junior at Burbank High School. Ever since I can remember, I have had a love for working with children and have always wanted to pursue a career doing so. Through volunteering at elementary schools, babysitting, and tutoring, I have gotten to explore this passion and earlier this year, I was given a fortunate opportunity, which lets me provide care and funds for children diagnosed with cancer. When I got the chance to run for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s 2020 Student of the Year, I of course immediately was thrilled and honored. However, learning that Leukemia and lymphoma are the most common types of cancer in children, attributing to roughly a third of all cancer in children, I immediately knew this was my opportunity to truly make a difference in countless children’s lives, and my parents Elizabeth and Mark Blanchard are here to help me along the way.

LLS is the leading blood-cancer nonprofit, having invested in over $1 BILLION dollars in cutting-edge research, pioneering many of today’s most innovative approaches to cancer. This research has also led to lifesaving breakthroughs – from precision medicine to immunotherapies, much of the pivotal discoveries of all types of cancers and diseases having originated from LLS’s blood cancer research. In 2017 and 2018 alone, LLS helped advance 34 of the 39 blood cancer treatment options approved by the FDA.Not only does LLS fund research, but it looks to improve the quality of cancer patients and their families lives, working hard to provide those patients with quality care, support, information, and education concerning blood cancer. LLS educates parents of cancer patients with everything from the patients should eat, directly advocating for state and federal policies to benefit patients and their families, and help lighten the burden of the enormous medical bills cancer patients face. 

I have been granted the wonderful opportunity to run for LLS’s 2020 Student of the Year, and can’t wait for the 10 week journey ahead of me. Over my 7 week fundraising campaign from January 16th to March 6th, I will work with my co-candidate Emilia Jordan, and the rest of our “Stronger Together” team, to reach our fundraising goal of a whopping $75,000, of which will all go directly to LLS’s funding of research, patient support, and advocacy.

However, we cannot reach this goal and make this change alone, and I am here to ask you to help us, by being part of the “Stronger Together” team and donating via my fundraising website - <insert link>. All donations are 100% tax deductible- LLS’s Tax ID # is 13-5644916.

Thank you for making a change,

Sincerely, 

Carmen Blanchard