At the age of 39, my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer (my aunt, my mom, and my grandma all carry the BRCA gene). After a year that involved surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation almost 19 years later she feels incredibly grateful to be alive. I cannot imagine my life without my aunt. My mom saw what her sister went through and opted to have prophylactic surgeries so that she wouldn’t have to go through the same experiences. Sadly, there were complications and my mom continues to be affected to this day. I know these experiences have had a great impact on my life and I can only imagine what it might be like to lose someone to cancer. More than anything I want to help find a cure. The work of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society not only can help those suffering from blood cancers but also contributes to finding a cure for other cancers, such as breast cancer.

I am honored to be nominated for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Student of the Year. Student of the Year is a 7-week fundraising competition where sixteen high school teams get the opportunity to raise money to fight cancer, beginning January 16th and ending on March 6th. My team, Kennedy’s Cure, has a goal to raise $50,000. This will allow me to link my funds to a research portfolio grant of my choosing, which would be very meaningful for me and my family. The mission of LLS is to find a cure for diseases such as Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma as well as to help the lives of patients and family members.

This is an opportunity for me to help others in a way that I have never been able to before and I hope you will join me in finding the cure for cancer by donating to Kennedy’s Cure! You can donate through this website, or by making out a check to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with our team name, Kennedy’s Cure in the memo. The check can be sent to this address: Kennedy Fox, 12801 Bloomfield Street, Studio City, CA 91604. All donations made are tax-deductible (LLS’s Tax ID is: 13-5644916). It is also possible to donate through a matching gift program if your company offers one. I appreciate any and all donations or simply sharing my mission and the mission of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!

It would be fulfilling to be named the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society student of the year for my work on behalf of LLS. Much more importantly, my team and I, like LLS, are dedicated to finding a cure for cancer. Thank you so much for your generosity and for helping us make an impact!

Warm regards,

Kennedy Fox