Dear Friends and Family,

I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to help others. Each year, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) launches its Student of the Year fundraising campaign, and I was honored to join this year’s efforts as a Team Member for Team Hope. I am writing today to ask for your support of LLS’ mission in its efforts to find cures for blood cancers and to assist patients and families as they battle the disease.

From January 9, 2019- March 15, 2019, our team goal is to raise $25,000 which will go directly to LLS in

support of its longstanding goal: a world without blood cancers. If we raise $50,000 by February 22, 2019, we can link our team name to an LLS- funded research portfolio to honor our efforts to help people with blood cancers.

Like many of you, I have witnessed first-hand the debilitating effects that Leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma can have for those who suffer with these blood cancers, and on the friends and family of those who care for and nurture their loved ones. My grandfather was tragically taken due to Leukemia. It was like a thief in the night, it came quick and before I could look up he was gone. Although he lived a beautiful life, I would have loved to spend just a little more time with him. I know he would be proud of me for partnering with LLS to fight this vicious disease.

There are many reasons to be proud to support LLS’ efforts. For instance, approximately 40% of new

cancer therapies approved by the FDA between 2000 and 2015 were first approved for blood cancer

patients. And many of these LLS- supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients but are now

approved to treat patients with rare forms of stomach and skin cancers, and noncancerous diseases, such

as rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. They’re are being tested in clinical trials for

patients with a range of cancers including lung, brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers, and

noncancerous diseases such as diabetes and lupus.

This is an organization that is making an impact with the dollars it raises, and I'm proud to be associated

with LLS.

This is where you come in.

Please use the following link https://events.lls.org/cca/bakersfieldsoy19/llujan to make your tax deductible donation or if you choose you can send a check made payable to LLS to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 1800 30^th Street Fourth Floor Bakersfield CA 93301. Please make sure to include my name in the memo section of the check.  You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email. I thank you in advance for supporting this incredible need. I'll keep you posted on how the campaign goes, for now, I am grateful for your friendship and support.

Sincerely,

Lexy Lujan